Republic of Albania Ministry of Public Works and Transport Water Project Implementation Unit ...

106 Pages·2013·2.7 MB·English

by  Utente Windows

Republic of Albania
Ministry of Public Works and Transport
Water Project Implementation Unit

Albania Water Sector Investment Project PHRD Grant No TF093096-AL
Consultant Services for Preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental
Management Plan

Environmental Impact Assessment Report

Draft for consultation
May2013

1
SUMMARY

SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
LIST OF FIGURES ......................................................................................................................................... 5
1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 8
Policy, legislation and administrative framework ............................................................................................. 8
Objectives and summary description of the proposed project ........................................................................... 8
Impacts of Project Component 1 - Priority Water Supply Investments......................................................... 9
Socio-economic environment .................................................................................................................... 9
Summary of the Main Environmental impacts ........................................................................................ 10
Analysis of project alternatives ................................................................................................................ 14
Conclusions of the draft EIA report in respect to water supply component ............................................ 14
Project Component 2: Wastewater Investments .............................................................................................. 15
Description of the Project Area................................................................................................................ 16
Expected Impacts of the Wastewater Component ................................................................................... 16
Analysis of alternatives and their impact on the environment ................................................................. 17
Conclusions of the EIA in respect to wastewater component .................................................................. 17
2 POLICY, LEGAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK ............................................................ 18
2.1 The legal and institutional framework .................................................................................................. 18
2.1.1 General legislation on the Environment .................................................................................... 18
2.1.2 Legislation on Water Management ............................................................................................ 19
2.1.3 Legislation on Environmental Impact assessment and Environmental Permitting ................... 20
2.1.4 INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS FOR WATER PROTECTION AND ADMINISTRATION .... 21
2.1.5 World Bank EIA Requirements and applicable OPs. ................................................................ 22
3 OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT ......................... 25
3.1 Previous World Bank projects .............................................................................................................. 25
3.2 The Present Project ............................................................................................................................... 25
3.3 Studies funded under the present project .............................................................................................. 26
3.4 The proposed infrastructures................................................................................................................. 27
3.4.1 Project Component 1 - Priority Water Supply Investments....................................................... 27
3.4.2 Project Component 2 - Wastewater Investments ....................................................................... 27
4 PROJECT COMPONENT 1- PRIORITY WATER SUPPLY INVESTMENTS (WELLFIELDS,
PIPELINE, BULK RESERVOIRS)................................................................................................................. 29
4.1 Description of Project Component 1- Priority water supply ................................................................ 29
4.1.1 The Fushe Milot Wellfield ......................................................................................................... 29
4.1.2 The Pumping Station.................................................................................................................. 30
4.1.3 The Main Transmission Pipeline ............................................................................................... 32
4.1.4 The Bulk reservoirs .................................................................................................................... 32
4.2 The socio-economic context ................................................................................................................. 34
4.2.1 Water demand in the Durres region ........................................................................................... 35
2
4.2.2 Water Demand in the Rural Area............................................................................................... 37
4.2.3 Social impact of the project ....................................................................................................... 38
5 RISK ANALYSIS AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS .................................................................... 40
5.1 Water resources ..................................................................................................................................... 40
5.1.1 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................. 40
5.1.2 Aquifer and Groundwater .......................................................................................................... 44
5.1.3 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 51
5.1.4 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 51
5.1.5 The investigations considered as necessary before project implementation ............................. 52
5.2 Geological and soil system ................................................................................................................... 52
5.2.1 Geology and lithology................................................................................................................ 52
5.2.2 Soil pollution and solid wastes .................................................................................................. 53
5.2.3 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 53
5.2.4 The expected impacts during the project’s groundwater extraction phase ................................ 54
5.3 Natural habitats ..................................................................................................................................... 54
5.3.1 The investigations considered necessary before project implementation .................................. 56
5.3.2 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 57
5.3.3 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 57
5.4 Air quality ............................................................................................................................................. 60
5.4.1 Sources of atmospheric pollution and their potential impact on the project area. ..................... 60
5.4.2 The investigations considered as necessary before project implementation ............................. 61
5.4.3 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 61
5.4.4 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 61
5.5 Climate change...................................................................................................................................... 62
5.5.1 Rainfall ....................................................................................................................................... 62
5.5.2 Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion .......................................................................................... 64
5.5.3 The investigations considered as necessary before project implementation. ............................ 65
5.5.4 The expected impacts during the construction phase ................................................................ 66
5.5.5 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 66
5.6 Physical cultural resources .................................................................................................................... 67
5.6.1 Archaeological areas and historical buildings ........................................................................... 67
5.6.2 General Pre-Construction Impacts and Mitigation Measures .................................................... 67
5.6.3 General Construction Impacts and Mitigation Measures ........................................................... 68
5.6.4 Assumptions and Limitations .................................................................................................... 68
5.6.5 Conclusions, Recommendations and Residual Impacts ............................................................. 68
5.6.6 The expected impacts during the project’s life .......................................................................... 69
5.7 Cumulative and Long Term Impacts .................................................................................................... 69
5.8 Analysis of alternatives and their impact on the environment .............................................................. 69
5.8.1 No-project option ....................................................................................................................... 69
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5.8.2 Alternative sources of water supply ........................................................................................... 70
5.9 Alternatives for the routing of the pipeline and the location of pumping stations. .............................. 73
5.10 Conclusions of the EIA ......................................................................................................................... 78
5.10.1 Impacts ....................................................................................................................................... 78
5.10.2 Triggering of World Bank’s OPs ............................................................................................... 79
6 PROJECT COMPONENT 2- WASTEWATER INVESTMENTS ......................................................... 83
6.1 The need for the project ........................................................................................................................ 84
6.2 Description of the Wastewater component ........................................................................................... 84
6.3 Description of the works ....................................................................................................................... 85
6.4 Description of the Project area .............................................................................................................. 86
6.5 Topography ........................................................................................................................................... 88
6.6 Hydrology and Drainage ....................................................................................................................... 89
6.7 Risk analysis and environmental impacts ............................................................................................. 90
6.7.1 Water resources .......................................................................................................................... 90
6.7.2 Geological and soil system ........................................................................................................ 90
6.7.3 Natural habitats .......................................................................................................................... 91
6.7.4 Air quality .................................................................................................................................. 91
6.7.5 Physical cultural resources ......................................................................................................... 91
6.7.6 Socio-economic environment .................................................................................................... 91
6.8 Analysis of alternatives and their impact on the environment .............................................................. 91
6.8.1 No project Option ...................................................................................................................... 91
6.8.2 Alternatives for the routing of the mains and the location of pumping stations. ....................... 92
6.9 Conclusions of the EIA ......................................................................................................................... 92
6.10 Triggering of World Bank’s OPs .......................................................................................................... 92
7 Public disclosure ...................................................................................................................................... 94
8 Environmental Mitigation Plan ................................................................................................................ 94
9 Environmental Monitoring Plan .............................................................................................................. 94
ANNEX 1 – DESCRIPTION OF HYDROLOGY IN THE PROJECT AREA ............................................. 95
ANNEX 2 DATA SOURCES ....................................................................................................................... 103

4
LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE 1 MAP OF DURRES SUPPLY ZONES & PROJECT AREA ................................................ 11
FIGURE 2 PROPOSED NEW WELLFIELD ............................................................................................ 31
FIGURE 3- ROUTE OF PROPOSED MAIN TRANSMISSION PIPELINE FROM NEW PUMPING
STATION TO DURRES ............................................................................................................................... 33
FIGURE 4- ROUTE OF PROPOSED MAIN TRANSMISSION PIPELINE FROM WELLSFIELD
TO PUMPING STATION ............................................................................................................................. 34
FIGURE 5 PROJECTED DEVELOPMENTS OF DURRES TO 2027 ................................................... 35
FIGURE 6- PROJECTED WATER DEFICIT FOR DURRES CITY ..................................................... 36
FIGURE 7 FUSHE KUQE BASIN ............................................................................................................... 41
FIGURE 8 RIVER MATI AND ISHMI BASINS ....................................................................................... 42
FIGURE 9 Hydrogeological Regions of Fushe Kuqe Basin ....................................................................... 50
FIGURE 10 IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS (PATOKU LAGOON AND LALZI BAY) ......................... 56
FIGURE 11 PROTECTED AREAS IN PROJECT AREA ....................................................................... 58
FIGURE 12 EXISTING ROADS IN THE ISHMI HILLS AT PIPLEINE CROSSING ........................ 59
FIGURE 13 - VARIATION OF PREDICTIONS IN CLIMATE CHANGE MODELS-RAINFALL
2020-2039 ........................................................................................................................................................ 63
FIGURE 14 VARIATION OF PREDICTIONS IN CLIMATE CHANGE MODELS-RAINFALL
2040-2059 ........................................................................................................................................................ 63
FIGURE 15 SEA LEVEL RISE PROJECTIONS IN THE MEDITERRENEAN SEA ......................... 65
FIGURE 16 WATER SUPPLY ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED BY IC CONSULENTEN ............. 72
FIGURE 17 - VARIANT 1 - ROUTES OF PIPELINE AND LOCATION OF PUMP STATION ....... 74
FIGURE 18 VARIANT 2 - ROUTES OF PIPELINE AND LOCATION OF PUMP STATION ......... 75
FIGURE 19 – MAP OF PROJECT AREA FOR COMPONENT 2 (WASTEWATER
INVESTMENTS) ........................................................................................................................................... 84
FIGURE 20 – SATELLITE IMAGE OF PROJECT AREA FOR COMPONENT 2 (WASTEWATER
INVESTMENTS) ........................................................................................................................................... 85
FIGURE 21 -CLOSE UP OF THE AREA WHERE THE MAINS WILL RUN ALONG THE BEACH
.......................................................................................................................................................................... 87
FIGURE 22 -SATELLITE IMAGE OF THE SITE OF SUB-COMPONENT 2 ..................................... 88
FIGURE 23 RIVER MATI AND ISHMI BASINS .................................................................................... 96

5
ACRONYMS

AAS Albanian Archeological Service
AIEC Average Incremental Economic Cost
ALL Albanian Lek
BP Bank Policy
CV Curriculum Vitae
DDWW Durres District Water Works
DN Diameter Nominal
DTEM Digital Terrain Elevation Model
DWSRP Durres Water Supply Rehabilitation Project
DWU Durres Water Utility
EC European Commission
EIB European Investment Bank
EOI Expression of Interest
EU European Union
EUR Euro
FIDIC International Federation of Consulting Engineers
GCM Global Circulation Model
GDEM Geo-referenced Digital Elevation Model
GDWSS General Directorate of Water Supply and Sewerage
GEF Global Environment Facility
GIS Geographical Information System
GPS Global Positioning System
GRP Glass Fiber Reinforced Pipes
IDA International Development Association
km2 Square kilometers
LRMC Long Run Marginal Cost
m3/sec Cubic meters per second
Mamsl Meters above mean sea level
Masl Meters above sea level
Mbgl Meters below ground level
METI Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
MPWT Ministry of Public Works and Telecommunications
MWWP Municipal Water and Wastewater Project
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NGO Non Governmental Organization
NPV Net Present Value
NRW Non-Revenue Water
O&M Operation and Maintenance
OP Operational Procedures
PAD Project Appraisal Document
PAP Project Affected Persons
PID Project Information Document
PDO Project Development Objectives
PFS Pre-Feasibility Study
PIU Project Implementation Unit
PV Present Value
QA Quality Assessment
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QC Quality Control
RAP Resettlement Action Plan
REA Regional Environmental Agency
RFP Request for Proposals
RTA Rapid Technical Assessment
SLR Sea Level Rise
TDS Total Dissolved Solids
TOR Terms of Reference
UTM Universal Trans Mercator
WGS World Geodetic System
WRA Water Regulatory Agency
WRM Water Resources Management
WSIP Water Supply Investment Project
WSS Water Supply System
WSURP Water Supply Urban Rehabilitation Project
% Percent
◦C Degrees Celsius
µg/l Micrograms per liter
Mg/l Milligrams per liter

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1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been prepared on behalf of the Ministry of Public Works
and Transport (MPWT) as foreseen in the TOR.Itpresents the state of the environment in the condition ex-
ante the implementation of the project, and the expected impacts of the project on the environment - in terms
of impact on soil, water, air, vegetation, natural habitats - as well as the social consequences of these same
impacts.It also compares the different project alternatives.
Policy, legislation and administrative framework

The National Law of Albania sets out the rules and modalities for carrying out an EIA. The present report
follows the guidelines of World Bank Operational Policy (OP) 4.01 and Albanian legislation. The other OPs
which have been taken into account are: OP 4.04 Natural Habitats; OP 4.11 Physical Cultural Resources; OP
4.12 Involuntary Resettlement; OP 4.37 Dams; OP 4.36 Forests; OP 7.50 Projects in International Waters;
OP 7.60 Projects in Disputed Areas. Details of legislation and applicable procedures above are provided in
Section2 of the report.
Objectives and summary description of the proposed project

The Project Development Objectives (PDO) are:
(i) to improve the quality of water services in the Durres Utility Service Area;
(ii) to improve access to wastewater services and transmission of wastewater to treatment in critical parts
of the Service Area; and
(iii) to improve operational and financial performance of Durres Water Utility.
As the second largest city of Albania, with a population that swells to twice its 200,000 residents during the
summer months, Durres was the Government’s priority location for piloting its institutional and policy
reform agenda, coupled with critical investment financing.
The project will be implemented by a Project Management Unit (PMU) established at the Ministry of Public
Works and Transport (MPWT). The following project components are assessed in the present study:

Component 1 -Priority Water Supply Investments. This component consists of:

• The development of a new wellfield
At initial phase of the project, two wellfield alternatives have been considered. These two
alternatives are the existing Fushe Kuqewellfield area and Fushe Milot wellfield area(See Figure 1).
Hydrogeological studies performed during the project show that the existingFushe Kuqe wellfield
may have already reached its maximum yield, and therefore cannot provide additional amounts of
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water. Additional groundwater extraction at this location will likely cause a decrease in groundwater
level that would lead to seawater intrusion into the groundwater system. On the other hand, Fushe
Milot wellfield is found to be the feasible and is the preferred option. Discussion of alternatives is
presented in Section 5.9 of this Report.The location of proposed Fushe-Milot wellfield is shown in
Figure 1.The proposed wellfield, which would be rehabilitated, will consist of five extraction wells
as well as one monitoring well. Two of the new production wells will be adjacent to the existing
wells that are no longer operational (due to closure of industrial facility they served), while the others
will be located up to 50 meters from two other existing wells (due to land ownership issues or
physical constraints). More details on this is to be found in section 4.1 of this Report.
• A pump station
As it is given in Figure 1, two alternative pipe routings were proposed by COWI for transmission
main, with two variants. Variant 2, which is locatedadjacent to the existing polder pump station–
Hydrovore - is chosen as the pump station area. A discussion of these alternatives is provided in
section 5.9 of this Report.
• A transmission main (pipeline)
The proposed route for the transmission main alternatives are shown in Figure 1. In terms of route
selection methodology, mainly existing roads are selected as pipeline route in order to minimize
environmental impacts. In this respect, the pipeline route follows almost entirely existing roads,
leading from the well field to Durres, with a branch off at Porto Romano. A discussion of route
alternatives is provided in section 5.9 of this Report.
• Bulk water reservoirs
Bulk water reservoirs are planned to supply the villages along Fushe Kruje main pipeline route and
Fushe Kuqe main pipeline route.

Component 2: Wastewater Investments
This component will finance priority wastewater investments in Durres aimed at enhancing the existing
sewerage network’s capacity to handle the increased water supply in an environmentally and socially
sustainable manner, including upgrading of critical parts of the sewerage network and provision of high-
pressure sewer cleaning equipment.
Impacts of Project Component 1 - Priority Water Supply Investments

Socio-economic environment
The project responds to the urgent need to satisfy water demand in Durres and also improves access to
potable water for the villages along the Fushe Kuqe main pipeline route.A separate study of the social
impact of the project has been prepared by DRN-ACER entitled “Durres Water pipeline Resettlement
Action Plan and Social Assessment” –with the draft final analysis produced in January 2012. In addition to
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this study, a specific study is performed for resettlement and land acquisition requirement of the Project. In
that respect a study report named “Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) andResettlement Policy Framework
(RPF)” was prepared by Government of Albania and cleared by the World Bank in January 2013, in
compliance with the Albanian Law on Land Acquisition and the World Bank’s OP 4.1.2. The RAP reveals
that the only affected parties from land acquisition, for the construction of the new Water Pipeline, are the
private land owners. A total of 28 land owners are identified in locations where a small portion of their land
will need to be expropriated according to the Albanian legislation in force. Land acquisition affects 34 plots
in four administrative units, in total 3487m2: (i.) Milot Commune – 6 land owners; (ii) Fushe Kuqe
Commune – 3 land owners; (iii) Ishem Commune – 18 land owners; (iv) Sukth Municipality – 1 land owner.
The estimated total cost of land compensation for the proposed project is calculated to the amount of
4,246,330.00 ALL (approximately US$ 40,442) for a total of land surface of 3487m2.Details of socio-
economic impacts are available in separate studies, as indicated above.
Summary of the Main Environmental impacts
This section outlinesonly the main impacts of the proposed Project. More comprehensive analysis is
presented in sections 5 and 6 of this Report.

Water resources
Potential impact of the project is expected on groundwater resources. There are specific risks associated with
water extraction from anyaquifer, which may produce impacts that need to be prevented, or limited, through
mitigation measures, and adequately monitored.
The major potential risks over groundwater sources are as follows:
• Overexploitation of the groundwater resourcecan cause a decrease in groundwater level, and a risk of
seawater intrusion. In the area of Fushe Kuqe plain, the phenomenon of seawater intrusion is already
an evident risk. The proposed location of the wellfield in Fushe Milot is further east of the Adriatic
coast and is likely to be of a lower risk of sea water intrusion.Over exploitation of the well-field
could lower the water table and adversely affect the production rate of the existing wells used to
locally irrigate some agricultural land downstream from the Project area, and/or could damage the
local vegetation and eco-systems. This situation could further have negative impact on water quality
in the local rivers and wells, cause changes in local aquatic ecosystems and have other negative
effects. It is worth noting that the proposed project aims to rehabilitate an existing wellfield (Fushe
Milot) to its original production level, following closure of the existing production wells in early
1990. During its prior operation, no observable phenomenon, such as those described above, were
detected. As a further measure, however, and in order to safeguard the aquifer, periodic monitoring
of water quality and impacts, if any, of extraction on areas surrounding the production wells during
construction and operation of the Fushe Milot Wellfield has been included in the project design and
EMP. If water extraction is managed carefully and responsibly, any potential negative effects can be
mitigated and/or completely avoided.
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