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Erbil Deep Boreholes
Environmental Impact Assessment Report
Submitted to World Vision KRI By SETS
May 2015
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Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ 3
List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................. 4
1. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 5
2. Project Description ............................................................................................................................ 6
3. Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 7
4. Description of Project Surroundings ................................................................................................. 8
4.1. Physical ...................................................................................................................................... 8
4.2. Biophysical .............................................................................................................................. 21
5. Environmental Issues ...................................................................................................................... 22
5.1. Map of Physical Works and Undertakings .............................................................................. 22
5.2. Concerns for Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 25
6. Analysis of Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................. 28
6.1. Summary of Impacts ............................................................................................................... 28
7. Environmental Considerations during Implementation ................................................................. 31
7.1. Monitoring Environment Effects and Mitigation .................................................................... 34
8. Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan ........................................................................ 35
9. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 43
10. References .................................................................................................................................. 44
Appendix A: Erbil Water Directorate Approval ....................................................................................... 45
Appendix B: General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities Approval ........................................................ 46
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List of Figures Figure 1: Erbil Rainfall Data[4] ...................................................................................................................... 9
Figure 2: Erbil Elevations [4] ....................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 3: Erbil Slopes [4] ............................................................................................................................. 11
Figure 4: Erbil Soil Types [6] ........................................................................................................................ 12
Figure 5: Erbil Physiographic Map (land-use + geology)[4] ........................................................................ 13
Figure 6: Erbil Runoff [4] ............................................................................................................................. 15
Figure 7: Erbil Streamlines .......................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 8: Hydraulic Conductivity Tests Locations ....................................................................................... 17
Figure 9: Boreholes' Locations .................................................................................................................... 22
Figure 10: Shawees Boreholes .................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 11: Binslawa Boreholes .................................................................................................................... 23
Figure 12: Darato Boreholes ....................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 13: Baharka Boreholes ..................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 14: Typical Well Cross Section – Drilling .......................................................................................... 25
Figure 15: Pumping Room - Facade Details ................................................................................................ 25
Figure 16: Typical Well Cross Section ......................................................................................................... 26
Figure 17: Water Well connection inside the well ...................................................................................... 26
Figure 18: Typical Well Cross Section - Submersible Pump Installation ..................................................... 27
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List of Tables Table 1: Locations of Proposed Boreholes .................................................................................................... 6
Table 2: Erbil Climate Data ............................................................................................................................ 8
Table 3: Erbil Rainfall Data ............................................................................................................................ 8
Table 4: Borehole Location Elevations ........................................................................................................ 10
Table 5: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 1 Results [11] .................................................................................... 18
Table 6: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 2 Results [12] .................................................................................... 18
Table 7: Chemical Test Results .................................................................................................................... 19
Table 8: Biological Test Results ................................................................................................................... 20
Table 9: Boreholes GPS Coordinates ........................................................................................................... 22
Table 10: Summary of Impacts ................................................................................................................... 28
Table 11: Impacts and their mitigation actions .......................................................................................... 31
Table 12: Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan .................................................................... 35
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1. Executive Summary 11
There has been an increase in water demand in Erbil due to the below normal water availability in the last few years in addition to the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. This increase in demand has put the existing water systems under immense pressure resulting in restricted access to safe water. In response to this, the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development, Canada (DFATD) has agreed to fund a proposed solution through World Vision. The proposed solution is to undertake a project consisting of drilling six deep boreholes spread inside Erbil to provide the necessary water supply. As part of the project, an Environmental Impact Assessment needs to be performed the objective of which is to ensure that any interventions and ongoing operations of the project would not cause any long term negative consequences to the environment.
The methodology used to complete the environmental impact assessment includes field visits and data collection through different sources (e.g. local authorities, desk research, tests conducted, field work, etc.) followed by analysis of the collected information. Based on the data analysis, mitigation measures and recommendations are presented.
As a first step, the project surroundings are presented. In Erbil, the yearly average temperature is 20.2 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 543 mm. The elevation of the proposed borehole locations ranges between 445-531 m amsl. The slopes and geology of the region are also presented in the report. The water resources in Erbil are characterized by the existence of many rivers, streams, springs, and ground water sources all of which are fed by rainfall and snow melt. The proposed boreholes fall within Erbil groundwater basin which can be divided into three main parts: North, Central and South. Five of the proposed boreholes fall in the central basin while Baharaka borehole falls within the northern basin. Additionally, biological and chemical tests have been conducted and the results turned out to be satisfactory for all tests. The proposed boreholes are all located in fully urbanized regions. As such, there are no significant ecosystems in proximity to the target area. This claim was confirmed during the site visits and investigations.
The construction and infrastructure installation for the project mainly consists of six boreholes spread around four sites within Erbil. For each borehole, there will be drilling of a well, pump installation and construction of a pumping room.
The impacts of the project are mostly negative during the construction phase. However, these negative impacts are only temporary and are greatly outweighed by the positive impacts during operation. For construction negative impacts result from vehicles and machinery operation, temporary facilities on site, laborers’ behaviors, etc. Mitigation measures are presented to avoid or at least minimize all potential negative impacts. As for the positive impacts during operation, they mainly consist of an increase of water supply and improvement of water quality. However, special care needs to be taken during water extraction in order for the project to be sustainable which requires meticulous monitoring. Water quality is also of paramount importance which is why chlorination dosages need to be carefully checked. Finally, the frequency of reporting for each mitigation measure, the person responsible and the monitoring indicators are all identified.
This assessment discusses these issues in more detail as well as outlines mitigation measures to be employed in order not only to minimize the risk to the environment as a result of these interventions, but also to improve water quality and quantity. Finally the environmental management plan will help summarize how this project can incorporate the findings and monitor them over the life of the project.
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2. Project Description There has been an increase in water demand in Erbil due to the below normal water availability in the last few years in addition to the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. This increase in demand has put the existing water systems under immense pressure resulting in restricted access to safe water. In response to this, the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development, Canada (DFATD) has agreed to fund a proposed solution through World Vision. The proposed solution is to undertake a project consisting of drilling six deep boreholes spread inside Erbil to provide the necessary water supply. The six boreholes are distributed in four areas in Erbil as presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Locations of Proposed Boreholes
Location Proposed number
of boreholes Population
Baharka 1 53,270
Darato 2 61,429
Binslawa 1 53,270
Shawees 2 16,209
Total 6 184,178
The implementation of the project following the design phase can be divided into two main phases: construction and operation. The design has been approved by Erbil Water Directorate. In fact, Appendix A is the directorate’s statement that the project adheres to Iraqi engineering and environmental standards, and Appendix B is the approval from the General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities. Construction is likely to have some negative impacts on the surroundings and on the environment which is why that step will require special attention and care. However, any such impacts are temporary and will most definitely be outweighed by the positive impacts once construction is complete and operation begins. In fact, during operation, the project is expected to benefit around 184,178 residents of the Erbil region (namely Baharka, Darato, Binslawa and Shawees) as shown and detailed in Table 1. The main activities that will be causing an immediate impact are all those related to drilling the boreholes which might have temporary negative impacts. As such, clear steps and recommendations will be identified to minimize such effects. It is also of paramount importance to evaluate the convenience of the borehole locations to make sure that those will not have a negative impact when drilled and that drilling will result in the supply of clean water. The ultimate outcome of the project will result in meeting the demands of the residents, IDPs and refugees of Erbil for an adequate and clean supply of water. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that any interventions and ongoing operations of this project would not cause any long term consequences to the environment.
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3. Methodology The methodology used to complete the environmental impact assessment includes field and data collection followed by analysis of the collected information. Based on the data analysis, mitigation measures and recommendations are presented.
Several sources were used to complete the data collection required for this project. General information, including technical data, was gathered through meeting key informants from the concerned local authorities, namely Erbil Water Directorate, General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities, General Directorate of Water and Sewerage, Groundwater Directorate and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.
In addition to meeting key personnel from the local authorities, further data was collected through observatory field visits to consolidate the understanding of the environmental setting. The four locations of the proposed boreholes along with the surrounding regions were visited and investigated. Social impacts were assessed through public discourse and interaction during the conducted site visits.
Furthermore, different types of tests were carried out on the aquifer into which the wells in question will tap such as biological and chemical tests. The purpose of these tests is to analyze and evaluate the quality of the water extracted from the wells by gathering information regarding water turbidity, pH levels, etc.
Desk review was also used as a source of information that could support the impact assessment study especially regarding some of the project’s surroundings’ description including topography, climate, etc.
Based on all the above activities, the main concerns were highlighted and analyzed as shown in the Environmental Impact Assessment report.
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4. Description of Project Surroundings
4.1. Physical
1. Climate
Iraq is almost a landlocked country. It has an extremely short coastline on the Gulf. The climate in Erbil is mild, and generally warm and temperate. There is more rainfall in the winter than in the summer. The temperature on yearly average is equal to 20.2 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 543 mm. The figures in Table 2 and Table 3 are based on long-term weather and climate records. They are an average for Erbil weather during various months [1] [2][3].
Table 2: Erbil Climate Data
Month Average Max Temp
(°C) Average Min Temp
(°C) Average hours of sunshine per day
January 12 2 5
February 15 3 6
March 19 7 7
April 25 11 8
May 32 16 10
June 39 21 14
July 43 25 14
August 42 24 13
September 38 19 11
October 29 14 8
November 21 8 6
December 14 4 5
Table 3: Erbil Rainfall Data
Month Average days with
rain per month Average rain per
month (mm)
January 14 61-100
February 11 61-100
March 10 61-100
April 10 61-100
May 5 31-60
June 1 0-5
July 1 0-5
August 1 0-5
September 1 0-5
October 5 6-30
November 7 31-60 mm
December 10 61-100 mm
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Additional rainfall data is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Erbil Rainfall Data[4]
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2. Geology 2.1. Topography
As a first step, the elevation of each borehole was determined by locating them on Google Earth. These were then confirmed by GPS readings during site visits. The elevations for each borehole are shown in Table 4.
Table 4: Borehole Location Elevations
Borehole Location Elevation (m)
Binslawa 531
Baharka 469
Shawees 1 530
Shawees 2 515
Darato (old) 445
Darato (new) 455
The detailed elevations for Erbil are presented in Figure 2 and the slopes are shown in Figure 3.
Figure 2: Erbil Elevations [4]
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Figure 3: Erbil Slopes [4]
2.2. Soil Formations The four locations of the proposed deep boreholes fall on a geological layer of recent deposits (alluvial). Under the recent deposits, at different depths, the boreholes pass through the upper Bakhtiary formation. The latter formation is richer in groundwater than the recent deposits layer which is made of clay, silty clay, a bit of sand and gravel. As for the upper Bakhtiary formation, it is made of sand, gravel and a bit of silt. Regarding thickness, the upper Bakhtiary formation is 1000 m thick, as for the recent deposits layer, its thickness varies due to geological factors, the topography of the region and the elevation of the region from the average mean seal level [5]. In Darato, the borehole starts with 100 m of recent deposits, then below 100 m, the soil formation becomes of type upper Bakhtiary where water availability is good [5]. In Binslawa, the borehole is located in the upper cretaceous formation with some deposits from the Bikhtiary formation. Water availability is low because the rocks are conglomerates and due to the presence of a fault [5].
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In Shawees, the borehole is located in the upper Bakhtiary formation and its water production is a bit low due to several reasons. In fact, the water table is low, the borehole elevation from the average mean sea level is relatively high and it falls on the boundary of the recharge area. Additionally, the number of drilled wells present in the region is relatively high compared to the other borehole locations [5]. In Baharka, the borehole starts on a 10-20 m layer of recent deposits and then enters the upper Bakhtiary formation. The expected water supply is moderate. [5]
Figure 4: Erbil Soil Types [6]
2.3. Physiography
When assessing the environmental impacts related to wells and boreholes, it is of paramount importance to study the land-use around the wells in parallel to the geological nature of the region. Figure 5 represents the physiographic map of Erbil.
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The six boreholes are located on the Pleistocene geological epoch. The land-use in the area overlaying the formation tapped by these wells is one of mixed use, consisting mainly of built-up areas, farmlands, grass and open forests. Accordingly, there are no major threats to the wells and the formations that they tap into.
Figure 5: Erbil Physiographic Map (land-use + geology)[4]
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3. Water Resources 3.1. Surface Water
The water resources in Erbil are characterized by the existence of many rivers, streams, springs,
and ground water sources. However, the most important water resources are rainfall and snow.
About 40% of the surface water comes from outside the Erbil region. The major rivers are Greater
Zab and Lesser Zab which are tributaries flowing into the river Tigris in Iraq. River Tigris is located
in the south of the Kurdistan region [7]. Greater Zab tributary is the main tributary of the Tigris and
passes through Erbil Governorate and then flows into the Tigris. The Greater Zab comes from the
Wan Lake in Turkey. It enters Iraq (Kurdistan region) at Al-Amadieh city. The length of Greater Zab
is 392 km. [4]
Furthermore, there are five sub-tributaries that flow into Greater Zab (Shamezenan, Row Kochek,
Rawandous, Bastourah and Khazir). The annual discharge rate of Greater Zab is 4.190 million m3,
while the annual flow rate of the Tigris River at Mosul city is 17.173 million m3 [8]. Lesser Zab
tributary passes through the Sulaimanyah governorate. It is an international river between Iraq and
Iran. Lesser Zab originates from mountains in Iran. The river enters the border of Iraq (Kurdistan
region) at the Bedrazhour region. It is the main river that provides the major water source to Dukan
Dam in Sulaimanyah Governorate. The length of Lesser river is 400 km, and its catchment area is
around 22,250 km2. The annual discharge rate of Lesser Zab is 7.07 million m3[8].
The Greater Zab River together with Rawandous river are the only sources of surface water
available for supplying water for drinking and other purposes. Water sources in Erbil are divided
roughly equally between surface and ground sources. Erbil, in some places, has old and damaged
infrastructure plus a large numbers of boreholes (more than 500 in the governorate). But some
populated areas still suffer from poor water and sanitation networks. Erratic power supply
damages pumps and low water pressure raises the risk of bacterial infiltration. There are also a
large number of illegal connections – usually just a plastic pipe punched into the main wrapped in
rags – which are a prime source of contamination [9].
The main wadis in the South (Erbil area) are Wadi Kurdara and Shiwasor and Wadi Bastora. It is
important to note that almost all the major rivers crossing the study area have their origin outside
it, namely in Turkey (the Tigris and the Great Zab) or in Iran (the Small Zab and the Diyala), thus
their entire` watershed covers broad regions outside the study area. The average discharge of the
Great Zab at the Eskikelek gauge station registered over the period 1970-1973 was of 313 m3/s.
Daily river flow varied from 118 m3/s to 2439 m3/s [10].
Figure 6 presents the runoff values of Erbil and Figure 7 shows the streams’ locations in Erbil which
were generated using GIS data.
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Figure 7: Erbil Streamlines
3.2. Ground Water The proposed boreholes fall within Erbil groundwater basin which can be divided into three main parts: North, Central and South. Five of the proposed boreholes fall on the central basin while Baharaka falls within the northern basin. The groundwater in these basins is of granular type and is considered to be one of the purest kinds because of its filtration through the granular ground, and because of its chemical properties, being far from salts, gypsum and anhydrite and sulfate. Twenty years ago, Baharka’s wells were all artesian. This is no longer the case because of the drop in the water table. This is due to the high number of wells, the drought of the last few years and the lack of recharge of groundwater which leads to the lowering of the static water level, dynamic water level and discharge [5]. The direction of flow of groundwater is from North-East to South-West which is why in Binslawa the water flow of boreholes is lower than the other locations. This is also due to the fact that there is
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no layer of clay at the other locations. Shawees has a similar situation to Binslawa, the groundwater there does not form a confined aquifer (the reservoirs of groundwater are unconfined aquifers or semi-confined) due to the lack of clay. As for Baharka, it is more convenient than Binslawa and Shawees, this is why the wells water supply there and in Dar Toto is more convenient than the other places [5].
3.3. Water Flow Rate (Hydraulic conductivity test results) Two hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted within the project location as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: Hydraulic Conductivity Tests Locations
The results of these tests are shown in Table 5 and Table 6.
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Table 5: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 1 Results [11]
VES No.
Aquifer Thickness
(m)
Aquifer resistivity
(W.m)
Formation Factor
Porosity Hydraulic
conductivity (m.s-1)
Aquifer Transmissivity
(m2d-1)
1 76 85 49.1 0.14 0.026 2.0
2 116 73 42.2 0.15 0.019 2.2
3 95 400 231.2 0.07 0.672 63.8
4 97 65 37.6 0.16 0.015 1.5
5 82 66 30.2 0.18 0.010 0.8
6 64 140 81 0.11 0.075 4.8
7 ---- 48 27.7 0.19 0.008
8 44 165 95.4 0.10 0.106 4.6
9 34 26 15 0.26 0.002 0.1
10 40 65 37.6 0.16 0.015 0.6
11 ---- 54 31.2 0.18 0.010
12 ---- 103 59.5 0.13 0.039
13 125 280 161.8 0.08 0.319 39.8
14 200 75 43.5 0.15 0.020 4.1
15 88 120 69.4 0.12 0.054 4.8
16 ---- 80 46.2 0.15 0.023
17 170 75 43.3 0.15 0.020 3.4
18 ---- 210 121.3 0.09 0.174
19 110 44 25.4 0.20 0.007 0.7
20 ---- 44 25.4 0.20 0.007
21 160 53 30.6 0.18 0.010 1.6
Table 6: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 2 Results [12]
Governorate Pedon Horizon Depth Sand Silt Clay Tex. Bulk density Porosity MWD Ksat
cm g. kg-1 μg. m-3 % mm cm.h-1
Erbil
P1
Ap 0-25 286.5 396.2 317.3 CL 1.44 40 3.21 55.12
Bt1 25-75 333.9 265.5 400.6 CL 1.51 38 2.76 43.33
Bt2 75-100 318.8 295.75 385.4 CL 1.61 36 2.11 41.11
P2
Ap 0-25 310.7 272.1 417.2 C 1.31 42 4.45 88.67
Bk 25-75 436.3 359.55 204.1 L 1.4 40 2.45 45.67
Ck 75-100 553.6 176.7 269.7 SCL 1.4 37 2.34 41.34
P3 Ap 0-25 282 148 534 C 1.26 52 2.63 18.7
Bk 25-80 171 135 377 SC 1.31 49 1.6 33
P4 Ap 0-25 289 437 274 CL 1.19 55 2.92 9.89
Bk 25-80 226 490 284 CL 1.26 51 2.05 1.27
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The hydraulic conductivity from Test 1 (near Baharka) shows some very high conductivities with very few readings of low conductivity. Test 2 shows lower conductivities than Test 1 but they are all predominantly promising of good yield.
3.4. Water Quality In order to assess water quality, several chemical and biological tests were conducted on all of the concerned locations. The tests were conducted by the Quality Assurance department of the Erbil Water Directorate in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The detailed results of the tests are presented in Table 7 and Table 8 [13][14]. All the tests conducted proved to be satisfactory.
Table 7: Chemical Test Results
No Location Source Date Turb PH E.C T.D.S T.Alk. T.H Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+ Cl- NO3- SO4
2- Result
1 Daratoo No.1 Well 9/3/15 3.1 7.6 350 175 200 209 53 18.4 9 1 23 36 16 Satisfactory
2 Daratoo No.2 Well 9/3/15 0.7 7.5 475 238 200 190 48 16.8 14 1 15 18 25 Satisfactory
3 Daratoo No.21 Well 9/3/15 0.8 7.5 300 150 210 224 56 20.2 23 1 17 30 30 Satisfactory
4 Daratoo No.26 Well 9/3/15 0.5 7.6 490 245 195 181 46 15.8 28 1 10 19 33 Satisfactory
5 Daratoo No.50 Well 9/3/15 0.6 7.7 495 248 189 195 49 17.4 11 1 18 29 19 Satisfactory
6 Daratoo No.11 Well 15/3/15 1.1 7.6 396 198 163 179 44 16.6 6 1 10 18 9 Satisfactory
7 Bharka Kamp No.1 Well 16/3/15 1 7.7 430 215 196 204 51 18.4 15 1 10 22 22 Satisfactory
8 Bharka No.1 Well 17/3/15 0.3 8.3 631 316 225 181 45 16.4 69 2 37 17 69
9 Bharka No.2 Well 17/3/15 0.2 8.1 650 325 231 241 61 21.2 32 2 39 26 70 Satisfactory
10 Bharka No.9 Well 17/3/15 0.3 8.2 662 331 210 237 59 21.5 44 2 35 18 68 Satisfactory
11 Bharka No.12 Well 17/3/15 0.4 8.1 659 330 250 195 49 17.4 55 2 39 38 65 Satisfactory
12 Bharka No.14 Well 17/3/15 0.5 8.2 605 303 245 220 55 19.8 30 2 26 21 64 Satisfactory
13 Bharka No.21 Well 17/3/15 0.2 8.1 498 249 198 213 54 18.7 6 1 16 39 30 Satisfactory
14 Bharka No.23 Well 17/3/15 0.5 8.2 658 329 230 224 56 20.2 41 2 36 22 53 Satisfactory
15 Bharka No.27 Well 17/3/15 0.1 8.1 554 277 210 229 57 20.8 10 3 12 30 42 Satisfactory
16 Bharka No.5 Well 18/3/15 0.5 7.5 460 230 200 213 54 18.7 19 1 19 27 47 Satisfactory
17 Bharka No.8 Well 18/3/15 0.9 7.7 537 269 225 248 62 22.3 15 1 17 17 44 Satisfactory
18 Bharka No.10 Well 18/3/15 0.9 7.8 388 194 192 190 48 16.8 9 1 10 20 22 Satisfactory
19 Bharka No.17 Well 18/3/15 0.6 7.7 408 204 187 192 51 15.5 9 1 13 20 20 Satisfactory
20 Bharka No.20 Well 18/3/15 0.3 7.6 457 229 195 205 55 16.2 44 2 13 13 55 Satisfactory
21 Shaweas No.5 Well 30/3/15 0.7 7.7 588 294 210 232 58 20.9 25 1 18 24 44 Satisfactory
22 Shaweas No.6 Well 30/3/15 1.4 7.8 565 283 213 224 55 20.8 28 1 13 16 50 Satisfactory
23 Shaweas No.8 Well 30/3/15 2.1 7.9 484 242 193 201 50 18.2 13 1 13 23 29 Satisfactory
24 Shaweas No.13 Well 30/3/15 0.6 7.8 405 203 185 192 47 17.9 6 1 13 22 18 Satisfactory
25 Shaweas No.16 Well 30/3/15 0.2 7.9 380 190 178 182 45 16.7 5 1 10 19 16 Satisfactory
26 Shaweas No.18 Well 30/3/15 0.2 7.9 368 184 163 175 44 15.6 4 1 9 20 11 Satisfactory
27 Kargakan No.9 Well 30/3/15 0.9 8 458 229 182 194 49 17.2 29 1 11 18 47 Satisfactory
28 Shaweas No.4 Well 31/3/15 0.2 7.9 392 196 171 185 46 16.8 6 1 12 23 13 Satisfactory
29 Shaweas No.9 Well 31/3/15 0.9 7.7 509 255 210 250 63 22.2 3 1 21 41 40 Satisfactory
30 Shaweas No.10 Well 31/3/15 0.7 7.8 458 229 198 217 54 19.7 6 1 16 32 22 Satisfactory
31 Shaweas No.17 Well 31/3/15 0.8 7.9 417 209 187 205 52 18 4 1 12 25 17 Satisfactory
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Table 8: Biological Test Results
No Location Source Date Re
Cl2
MPNFecal
Coli E.Coli
MPNTotal
Coli
Plate
Count V.C Temp Result
1 Daratu No. 1 Well 3/9/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
2 Daratu No. 2 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
3 Daratu No. 3 Well 3/9/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
4 Daratu No. 4 Well 3/9/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
5 Daratu No. 7 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
6 Daratu No. 16 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
7 Daratu No. 18 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
8 Daratu No. 20 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
9 Daratu No. 23 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
10 Daratu No. 50 Well 3/9/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
11 Daratu No. 9 Well 3/15/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
12 Daratu No. 10 Well 3/15/2015 2 0 0 2.2 0 0 20 Satisfactory
13 Daratu No. 11 Well 3/15/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
14 Kampi Bahrka Well 3/16/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
15 Bahrka No. 1 Well 3/17/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
16 Bahrka No. 2 Well 3/17/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
17 Bahrka No. 12 Well 3/17/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
18 Bahrka No. 14 Well 3/17/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
19 Bahrka No. 16 Well 3/17/2015 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
20 Bahrka No. 21 Well 3/17/2015 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
21 Bahrka No. 23 Well 3/17/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
22 Bahrka No. 27 Well 3/17/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
23 Bhrka No. 5 Well 3/18/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
24 Bhrka No. 8 Well 3/18/2015 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
25 Bhrka No. 17 Well 3/18/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
26 Bhrka No. 20 Well 3/18/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
27 Shawes No. 1 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
28 Shawes No. 2 Well 3/30/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
29 Shawes No. 5 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
30 Shawes No. 6 Well 3/30/2015 2 0 0 1 0 0 20 Satisfactory
31 Shawes No. 8 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 2 0 0 20 Satisfactory
32 Shawes No. 13 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 3 0 0 20 Satisfactory
33 Shawes No. 16 Well 3/30/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
34 Shawes No. 17 Well 3/30/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
35 Shawes No. 18 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
36 Shawes No. 19 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
37 Shawes No. 25 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
38 Shawes No. 3 Well 3/31/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
39 Shawes No. 4 Well 3/31/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
40 Shawes No. 9 Well 3/31/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
41 Shawes No. 10 Well 3/31/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
42 Shawes No. 11 Well 3/31/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
43 Shawes No. 23 Well 3/31/2015 3 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory
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4.2. Biophysical
The proposed boreholes are all located in fully urbanized regions. As such, there are no significant ecosystems in proximity to the target area. This claim was confirmed during the site visits and investigations.
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5. Environmental Issues
5.1. Map of Physical Works and Undertakings
During the conducted field visits, GPS points for each of the proposed boreholes were collected. The
results are shown in Table 9.
Table 9: Boreholes GPS Coordinates
Location Northing Easting
Baharka 36.3151 °N 44.0372 °E
New Darato 36.1192 °N 44.0821 °E
Old Darato 36.1222 °N 44.0543 °E
Binslawa 36.1577 °N 44.1315 °E
Shawees 1 36.2496 °N 44.0938 °E
Shawees 2 36.2422 °N 44.0839 °E
Using the coordinates, each borehole is located on Google Earth as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9: Boreholes' Locations
It is important to note that all borehole locations have been approved by the Ministry of
Municipality and Tourism in Kurdistan region. Specifically, Appendix A is the directorate’s
statement that the project adheres to Iraqi engineering and environmental standards, and
Appendix B is the approval from the General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities.
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To get a clearer idea of the surroundings of each borehole, additional zoomed-in figures are
provided for each of the four regions in Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12 and Figure 13.
Figure 10: Shawees Boreholes
Figure 11: Binslawa Boreholes
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Figure 12: Darato Boreholes
Figure 13: Baharka Boreholes
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5.2. Concerns for Infrastructure
The construction and infrastructure installation mainly consists of six boreholes spread around four sites within Erbil. For each borehole, there will be drilling of a well, pump installation and construction of a pumping room. Drawings of these items are shown in Figure 14, Figure 15, Figure 16, Figure 17 and Figure 18 [15]. The impacts for the construction of the below are presented in details in Table 10.
Figure 14: Typical Well Cross Section – Drilling
Figure 15: Pumping Room - Facade Details
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Figure 16: Typical Well Cross Section
Figure 17: Water Well connection inside the well
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Figure 18: Typical Well Cross Section - Submersible Pump Installation
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6. Analysis of Environmental Impacts
6.1. Summary of Impacts
Table 10 summarizes the impacts for each activity related to the project and presents the magnitude, frequency, likelihood and consequence of each impact.
Table 10: Summary of Impacts
Activity Type of Impact Magnitude Frequency /
Duration Likelihood
Consequence (+ / -)
CONSTRUCTION PHASE
Site Preparation
Construction of temporary site offices and lay down area may have a limited impact on the topography
Minimal Temporary Low Negative
Commercial activities hindered because of the difficulty of access
Medium Only during construction
Low Negative
General use of vehicles and machinery
Water for wash down of vehicles and machinery on site may contaminate groundwater
Significant Permanent Low Negative
Spills or leaks of fuels, lubricants or chemicals from machinery and vehicles may contaminate groundwater
Significant Permanent Low Negative
Source of noise Medium Only during construction
High Negative
General laborer presence on site
Inadequate storage and management of litter, construction waste and liquid wastes prior to disposal
Medium Only during construction
Medium Negative
Effluent from construction workers’ temporary amenities leaching into groundwater, carrying nutrients and micro-organisms
Significant Permanent Medium Negative
Contamination of the storm water from litter and construction wastes and untreated effluent from temporary workers' amenities
Medium Only during construction
Low Negative
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Activity Type of Impact Magnitude Frequency /
Duration Likelihood
Consequence (+ / -)
Odor generated from sewer of worker's amenities
Significant Only during construction
High Negative
Traffic due to transport of personnel Medium Only during construction
Medium Negative
Excavation works
Heavy noises near schools can affect learning
Medium Only during construction
Minimal Negative
Dust emissions generated from earthworks due to loading and unloading of materials on site and from uncovered truckload
Minimal Only during construction
Medium Negative
Contamination of storm water from exposed soils sediments
Medium Only during construction
Low Negative
High volume of excavation and filling may alter flow paths within the portions under construction
Medium Only during construction
High Negative
Backfilling with clean materials around the pipe with good compaction
Improved water supply quality and quantity
Significant Permanent High Positive
Connecting new line from water well with main pipe line and installing gate valves
Better water extraction control Medium Permanent High Positive
Manhole construction Potential worker accidents from constructing manholes
Significant Only during construction
Low Negative
Removal of debris hauling to an approved location
Traffic congestions Medium Only during construction
Medium Negative
Adverse impact on the health of the workers and residents in and around the due to deterioration of the air quality, increase of noise and traffic
Significant Only during construction
Medium Negative
Volatile emissions during earthwork phase from solvents and fuels stored or used on the Project site
Medium Only during construction
High Negative
Exhaust and dust emissions from Medium Only during High Negative
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Activity Type of Impact Magnitude Frequency /
Duration Likelihood
Consequence (+ / -)
construction vehicles and machinery construction
Circuit breaker 30 A Protection in case of electrical overload or short circuit
Significant Permanent Low Positive
Facility façade Negative visual effect on aesthetics Minimal Permanent Medium Negative
Drilling of water wells Heavy noises near schools can affect learning
Minimal Only during construction
High Negative
Supply of suitable gravel for well filtration
Proper installation will result in good water quality
Significant Permanent High Positive
Installation of electric cables to connect the well with the power source
Use of potentially harmful materials (e.g. PCB)
Significant Permanent Low Negative
Provision of chlorination device Improper dosage may alter water quality
Significant Permanent Low Negative
Disposal of pumping fluid Improper disposal may lead to surface water pollution
Significant Only during construction
Medium Negative
OPERATION PHASE
Water extraction
Water drawdown Significant Permanent Low Negative
Unsustainable water use Medium Permanent Low Negative
Impact on neighboring wells Medium Permanent Low Negative
Increase of water supply Significant Permanent High Positive
Pump room operation
Halted operation due to electricity cuts Medium Single event occurrences
Low Negative
Pollution in case generators are needed Minimal Permanent Medium Negative
Contamination of water due to spills and propagation of chemical elements (e.g. PCB, oil, etc.)
Significant Permanent Medium Negative
Noise pollution Minimal Permanent High Negative
Well facilities Aesthetic issue Minimal Permanent Medium Negative
Chlorination Risk of wrong dosage Significant Single event
occurrences Low Negative
Improved water quality Significant Permanent High Positive
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7. Environmental Considerations during Implementation The mitigation actions and approaches of all identified impacts are presented in Table 11.
Table 11: Impacts and their mitigation actions
Activity/Impact Mitigating Actions and Approaches
Construction of temporary site offices and lay down area may have a limited impact on the topography
Limit earthworks to the minimum required for the proposed facilities such as site office
Commercial activities hindered because of the difficulty of access
Local residents should be employed during the construction phases wherever feasible
Water for wash down of vehicles and machinery on site may contaminate groundwater
Provision of uncontaminated water for dust suppression and wash down of vehicles and machinery
Spills or leaks of fuels, lubricants or chemicals from machinery and vehicles may contaminate groundwater
Spill control measures should be implemented to prevent spills from infiltrating into the groundwater table. Measures should include appropriate materials handling and storage procedures, and development of contingency plans in the event of a spill
Noise pollution during construction
Make sure all machinery and vehicles are fitted with appropriate mufflers, and that all mufflers and acoustic treatments are in good working order;
Make sure all machinery and vehicles are regularly maintained and broken parts (such as mufflers) are replaced immediately
Make sure all machinery and vehicles are operated efficiently and according to the manufacturers specifications, by trained and qualified operator
Make sure that activities likely to cause adverse noise impacts are timed to have least impact on surrounding land users and other site activities (such as the schools and the hospitals)
Make sure all personnel are issued with hearing protection and are advised of its proper use
Consultation of earthwork hours with affected residents and nearby sensitive receivers
Inadequate storage and management of litter, construction waste and liquid wastes prior to disposal
Waste management measures should be implemented to prevent litter and debris and liquid wastes from entering soil excavations
Effluent from construction workers’ temporary amenities leaching into groundwater, carrying nutrients and micro-organisms
Provision of temporary amenities for workers. Effluent should be treated or suitably disposed off-site
Contamination of storm water from litter and construction wastes and untreated effluent from temporary workers' amenities
Waste control measures should be implemented to prevent litter and construction waste from infiltrating into the groundwater table
Provision of suitable workers’ amenities facilities. If possible,
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Activity/Impact Mitigating Actions and Approaches
effluent should be disposed of off-site at a nearby STP
High volume of excavation and filling may alter flow paths within the portions under construction
Re-use any excess excavation material generated by the construction within the site or on the other nearby projects. The deposit of waste to landfill is a last resort.
Reduce as much as possible difference between cut and fill
Odor generated from sewer of worker's amenities
Provision of suitable workers’ amenities, located within the construction area and, if possible, downwind from residential areas
Regular maintenance of workers’ amenities, including the emptying of effluent storage tanks
Traffic congestions during construction
Provision of shared worker's transport from workers accommodation to the proposed Project site
Installation of warning signs and specified speed limits (site roads should reduce traffic speeds to 20 km/hr)
The use of local construction materials where practical to avoid long journeys
Provision of adequate lighting on site road and parking areas
Timing of construction activity, such as restricting construction traffic to designated roads during designated times
Design a traffic plan to make sure that traffic avoids, where possible, congested and heavily populated areas and dusty roads
Heavy noises near schools can affect learning
Construction works within 100m of schools should be restricted to outside school hours (such as before and after school, during school holidays or weekends, or left as the final stage of works); Wire fence meshing, dust screens or wooden hoardings should be installed to delineate the construction area and therefore decrease impacts; The access points for construction vehicles should be a minimum of 100m from school access
Dust emissions generated from earthworks due to loading and unloading of materials on site and from uncovered truckload
Minimizing the height and slope of stockpiles to ensure erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events does not occur
Side enclosure and covering, by impervious sheeting, of any aggregate or other dusty material stockpiles
Dusty vehicle loads transported to, from and within the Project site should be covered by sheets and should not be overloaded
Contamination of storm water from exposed soils sediments
The height and slope of stockpiles should be limited to minimize erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events
Locating stockpiles on flat areas, away from storm water. Ensure that sediment or erosion cannot reach a waterway; Diversion of overland flow around work areas / construction
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Activity/Impact Mitigating Actions and Approaches
sites
Potential worker accidents from constructing manholes
Following mitigation measures are recommended for the prevention of gas emissions
Adverse impact on the health of the workers and residents in and around the due to deterioration of the air quality, increase of noise and traffic
Implement the air quality, noise and traffic mitigation measures as described in the relevant sections
Volatile emissions during earthwork phase from solvents and fuels stored or used on the Project site
Ensure all machinery is in good order and repair and not leaking fuel or volatile emissions from fuel tanks or fuel lines
A full list of all volatile fuels and chemicals stored on site should be kept by the site supervisor, including accompanying volumes, locations and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
Exhaust and dust emissions from construction vehicles and machinery
Use of modern machinery, with adequate pollution control devices. Regular maintenance and inspection programs for all construction vehicles.
Proper and efficient operation of construction machinery and vehicles by qualified workers
Regular maintenance and inspection program for all construction vehicles
Minimize unnecessary operation of construction machinery, including efficiency of trip times and reduction of double handling through appropriate placement of stockpiles, haul roads, work depots and work areas
Daily visual checks to ensure the above points are followed, particularly in regards to smoke emissions from vehicles and plants. Equipment generating smoke should be given defect notices and taken out of service until repaired and approved for re-deployment by site supervisor.
Negative visual effect on aesthetics Design facilities’ facades in a subtle way that matches its surroundings and reduce their size as much as possible to minimize the potential negative effects on aesthetics.
Use of potentially harmful materials (e.g. PCB)
Limit use of harmful materials. If unavoidable, impose monitoring and maintenance
Improper chlorination dosage may alter water quality
Regular monitoring of water content and of chlorination performance
Improper disposal of pumping fluid may lead to surface water pollution
Place pumping fluid in detention/evaporation ponds on site
Water drawdown Control water extraction to match as close as possible the groundwater recharge rate
Unsustainable water use
Water extraction monitoring
Sensitize and educate the beneficiaries/refugees on the need to conserve water and promote best practices in the use of water
Improved irrigation practices
Impact on neighboring wells Make sure that the proposed borehole is located at an
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Activity/Impact Mitigating Actions and Approaches
acceptable distance from other existing boreholes
Halted operation due to electricity cuts Use backup sources of power (e.g. traditional, renewable, etc.)
Pollution in case generators are needed Use double hulled storage tanks for fuel
Contamination of water due to spills and propagation of chemical elements (e.g. PCB, oil, etc.)
Store chemicals in a contained location with no drainage connection to the water network
Ensure that transformers are located on impermeable and contained surfaces
Noise pollution during operation Plant trees and shrubs around facility
Risk of wrong chlorination dosage Regular monitoring of water content and of chlorination performance
7.1. Monitoring Environment Effects and Mitigation
During the construction phase, the resident engineer on site would designate a person to continuously monitor the activities that have been highlighted above that would cause a negative impact and that subsequently necessitate mitigation action. The monitoring would ensure that mitigation measures are strictly followed and any nonconformance would be reported to the resident engineer for correction. Some monitoring activities would include but not be limited to:
Site inspection Construction activities Disposal activities Worker behavior Traffic Power supply Etc.
Such a monitoring effort would limit any negative impact from nonconformance and would enable a better implementation of the management plan In order to ensure that the boreholes are properly operating there would be a team, from Erbil Water Directorate, designated for their follow-up. During operation this team would also monitor on a regular basis the level of water in the wells, chlorination dosage and power supply – the main potential sources of negative impacts.
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8. Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan Table 12 presents the monitoring indicators, reporting frequency and person responsible for each mitigation measure identified for the project.
Table 12: Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan
Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
Construction of temporary site offices and lay down area may have a limited impact on the topography
Limit earthworks to the minimum required for the proposed facilities such as site offices
Earthwork quantities optimization Prior to commencing earthworks
Construction Manager
Commercial activities hindered because of difficulty of access
Local residents should be employed during the construction phases wherever feasible
Number of local residents employed Prior to and during construction
Construction Manager
Water for wash down of vehicles and machinery on site may contaminate groundwater
Provision of uncontaminated water for dust suppression and wash down of vehicles and machinery
Water quality for dust suppression Bi - Weekly Site Supervisor
Spills or leaks of fuels, lubricants or chemicals from machinery and vehicles may contaminate groundwater
Spill control measures should be implemented to prevent spills from infiltrating into the groundwater table. Measures should include appropriate materials handling and storage procedures, and development of contingency plans in the event of a spill
Correctness of procedures and plans Prior to commencing construction
Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
Noise pollution during construction
Make sure all machinery and vehicles are fitted with appropriate mufflers, and that all mufflers and acoustic treatments are in good working order;
Visual inspections Noise level
Prior to construction and update as required
Site Supervisor
Make sure all machinery and vehicles Visual inspections Daily Site Supervisor
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
are regularly maintained and broken parts (such as mufflers) are replaced immediately
Noise level
Make sure all machinery and vehicles are operated efficiently and according to the manufacturers specifications, by trained and qualified operator
Visual inspections Noise level
Prior to construction
Site Supervisor
Make sure that activities likely to cause adverse noise impacts are timed to have least impact on surrounding land users and other site activities (such as schools and hospitals)
Noise level Daily/Weekly Construction Manager Site Supervisor
Make sure all personnel are issued with hearing protection and are advised of its proper use
Visual inspections Noise level
Daily/weekly Safety Engineer
Consultation of earthwork hours with affected residents and nearby sensitive receivers
Noise level at different times Residents feedback
Prior to and during construction
Construction Manager
Inadequate storage and management of litter, construction waste and liquid wastes prior to disposal
Waste management measures should be implemented to prevent litter and debris and liquid wastes from entering soil excavations
Visual inspections of site During construction
Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
Effluent from construction workers’ temporary amenities leaching into groundwater, carrying nutrients and micro-organisms
Provision of temporary amenities for workers. Effluent should be treated or suitably disposed off-site
Efficiency of provided amenities Prior to commencing construction
Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
Contamination of storm Waste control measures should be Efficiency of proposed measures Prior to Health Officer
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
water from litter and construction wastes and untreated effluent from temporary workers' amenities
implemented to prevent litter and construction waste from infiltrating into the groundwater table
commencing construction
Water/Sanitation Officer
Provision of suitable workers’ amenities facilities. If possible, effluent should be disposed of off-site at a nearby STP
Efficiency of provided amenities Prior to commencing construction
Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
High volume of excavation and filling may alter flow paths within the portions under construction
Re-use any excess excavation material generated by the construction within the site or on the other nearby projects. The deposit of waste to landfill is a last resort.
Location and quantities of cut and fill volumes
During construction
Construction Manager Site Supervisor
Reduce as much as possible difference between cut and fill
Cut and fill volumes Before construction
Design Engineer
Odor generated from sewer of worker's amenities
Provision of suitable workers’ amenities, located within the construction area and, if possible, downwind from residential areas
Efficiency of provided amenities Prior to commencing construction
Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer Site Supervisor
Regular maintenance of workers’ amenities, including the emptying of effluent storage tanks
Efficiency of provided amenities Prior to and during construction
Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer Site Supervisor
Traffic congestions
Provision of shared worker's transport from workers accommodation to the proposed Project site
Number of vehicles required to transport workers
Daily/Weekly Site Supervisor
Installation of warning signs and specified speed limits (site roads should reduce traffic speeds to 20 km/hr)
Efficiency of signs location Prior to commencing construction
Site Supervisor
The use of local construction materials where practical to avoid long journeys
Number of local suppliers involved compared to non-local construction materials
Prior to and during construction
Construction Manager
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
Provision of adequate lighting on site road and parking areas
Efficiency of light distribution and intensity
Prior to and during construction
Site Supervisor
Timing of construction activity, such as restricting construction traffic to designated roads during designated times
Traffic level of service Prior to and during construction
Construction Manager
Design a traffic plan to make sure that traffic avoids, where possible, congested and heavily populated areas and dusty roads
Traffic level of service Prior to and during construction
Traffic Engineer
Heavy noises near schools can affect learning
Construction works within 100m of schools should be restricted to outside school hours (such as before and after school, during school holidays or weekends, or left as the final stage of works); Wire fence meshing, dust screens or wooden hoardings should be installed to delineate the construction area and therefore decrease impacts; The access points for construction vehicles should be a minimum of 100m from school access
Noise levels School feedback
Prior to and during construction
Construction Manager Site Supervisor
Dust emissions generated from earthworks due to loading and unloading of materials on site and from uncovered truckload
Minimizing the height and slope of stockpiles to ensure erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events does not occur
Visual inspections Prior to commencing construction
Site Supervisor
Side enclosure and covering, by impervious sheeting, of any aggregate or other dusty material stockpiles
Visual inspections Prior to commencing construction
Site Supervisor
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
Dusty vehicle loads transported to, from and within the Project site should be covered by sheets and should not be overloaded
Visual inspections Daily/Weekly Site Supervisor
Contamination of storm water from exposed soils sediments
The height and slope of stockpiles should be limited to minimize erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events
Visual inspections Daily checks of the location of the stockpiles
Site Supervisor
Locating stockpiles on flat areas, away from storm water. Ensure that sediment or erosion cannot reach a waterway; Diversion of overland flow around work areas / construction sites
Visual inspections Daily checks of the location of the stockpiles
Site Supervisor
Potential worker accidents from constructing manholes
Following mitigation measures are recommended for the prevention of gas emissions
Efficiency of mitigation measure for gas emissions prevention
Prior to and during construction
Safety Engineer
Adverse impact on the health of the workers and residents in and around the due to deterioration of the air quality, increase of noise and traffic
Implement the air quality, noise and traffic mitigation measures as described in the relevant sections
Efficiency of assigned mitigation measures
Prior to and during construction
Safety Engineer Site Supervisor
Volatile emissions during earthwork phase from solvents and fuels stored or used on the project site
Ensure all machinery is in good order and repair and not leaking fuel or volatile emissions from fuel tanks or fuel lines
Visual inspections Daily/Weekly Site Supervisor
A full list of all volatile fuels and chemicals stored on site should be kept, including accompanying volumes, locations and Material Safety Data
List of volatile fuels and chemicals Update the register as necessary
Site Supervisor
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
Sheets (MSDSs)
Exhaust and dust emissions from construction vehicles and machinery
Use of modern machinery, with adequate pollution control devices. Regular maintenance and inspection programs for all construction vehicles.
Visual inspections Daily Construction Manager Site Supervisor
Proper and efficient operation of construction machinery and vehicles by qualified workers
Workers qualifications Visual inspections
Prior to commencing construction
Construction Manager Site Supervisor
Regular maintenance and inspection program for all construction vehicles
Maintenance and inspection program efficiency and implementation
In accordance with manufacturer requirements
Construction Manager Site Supervisor
Minimize unnecessary operation of construction machinery, including efficiency of trip times and reduction of double handling through appropriate placement of stockpiles, haul roads, work depots and work areas
Optimized total expected trip time compared to usual total trip time
Prior to construction
Site Supervisor Traffic Engineer
Daily visual checks to ensure the above points are followed, particularly in regards to smoke emissions from vehicles and plants. Equipment generating smoke should be given defect notices and taken out of service until repaired and approved for re-deployment by site supervisor.
Visual checks Daily Health Officer
Negative visual effect on aesthetics
Design facilities’ facades in a subtle way that matches its surroundings and reduce their size as much as possible to minimize the potential
Façade design Prior to construction
Design Engineer
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
negative effects on aesthetics.
Use of potentially harmful materials (e.g. PCB)
Limit use of harmful materials. If unavoidable, impose monitoring and maintenance
Amount of harmful materials used Weekly Health Officer Site Supervisor
Inadequate chlorination dosage may alter water quality
Regular monitoring of water content and of chlorination performance
Water quality tests Arsenic <0.01 mg/L Lead <0.01 mg/L Total coli forms not detectable in any 100 ml sample Copper <2 mg/L Nitrate <50 mg/L Nitrite <0.2 mg/L Fluoride <1.5 mg/L
Daily Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
Improper disposal of pumping fluid may lead to surface water pollution
Place pumping fluid in detention/evaporation ponds on site
Water quality tests Arsenic <0.01 mg/L Lead <0.01 mg/L Total coli forms not detectable in any 100 ml sample Copper <2 mg/L Nitrate <50 mg/L Nitrite <0.2 mg/L Fluoride <1.5 mg/L
Prior and during construction
Site Supervisor
Water drawdown Control water extraction to match as close as possible the groundwater recharge rate
Amount of water being extracted Bi-weekly Water/Sanitation Officer
Unsustainable water use
Water extraction monitoring Amount of water being extracted Bi-weekly Water/Sanitation Officer
Sensitize and educate the beneficiaries/refugees/IDPs on the need to conserve water and promote best practices in the use of water
Amount of water being extracted Beneficiaries/refugees/IDPs feedback and reaction
Biannual Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
Improved irrigation practices Amount of water being used for Quarterly Water/Sanitation
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Environmental Component and Activity
Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)
Data Collection and
Reporting Frequency
Responsible
irrigation Officer
Impact on neighboring wells
Make sure that the proposed borehole is located at an acceptable distance from other existing boreholes
Proposed and existing borehole locations Distance between them
Prior to construction
Hydrogeologist Consultant
Halted operation due to electricity cuts
Use backup sources of power (e.g. traditional, renewable, etc.)
Hours of electricity cuts per day In case of power cuts
Local authorities
Pollution in case generators are needed
Use double hulled storage tanks for fuel
Hours per day during which generator is being used
Always Contractor
Contamination of water due to spills and propagation of chemical elements (e.g. PCB, oil, etc.)
Store chemicals in a contained location with no drainage connection to the water network
Water quality tests Arsenic <0.01 mg/L Lead <0.01 mg/L Total coli forms not detectable in any 100 ml sample Copper <2 mg/L Nitrate <50 mg/L Nitrite <0.2 mg/L Fluoride <1.5 mg/L
Always Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
Ensure that transformers are located on impermeable and contained surfaces
Location of transformers Type of surfaces on which transformers are located
Before construction
Hydrogeologist
Noise pollution during operation
Plant trees and shrubs around facility Trees layout, number and height At the end of construction
Landscape Engineer
Risk of wrong chlorination dosage
Regular monitoring of water content and of chlorination performance
Water quality tests Arsenic <0.01 mg/L Lead <0.01 mg/L Copper <2 mg/L Nitrate <50 mg/L Nitrite <0.2 mg/L Fluoride <1.5 mg/L
Daily Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer
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9. Conclusions
In summing up the environmental impact assessment of the project, it can be readily claimed that the project has net positive impact – mainly on the health of the beneficiaries through their supply of adequate quantities of clean water. The negative impacts are minimal and are mainly concentrated in the construction phase which is temporary. It should be highlighted, that it is important to continuously monitor the level of water table level. This is critical for the entire region and would not be caused by the six additional wells – there are tens more within the Erbil region.
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10. References
[1] Climate Data, "Climate Data: Arbil," [Online]. Available: http://en.climate-data.org/location/4976/.
[2] Erbilia, "Erbilia," [Online]. Available: http://www.erbilia.com/erbil-info/weather/.
[3] what's the weather like, "Erbil Climate Info," [Online]. Available:
http://www.whatstheweatherlike.org/iraq/erbil.htm.
[4] H. M. Hameed, "Water harvesting in Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq - Detection of
suitable sites using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing," Lund University, Sweden,
2013.
[5] Erbil Water Directorate, "Hydrogeology Report," Erbil, 2011.
[6] R. Dizayee, "Groundwater Degradation and Sustainability of the Erbil Basin, Erbil, Kurdistan Region,
Iraq," Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2014.
[7] UNDP, "UNDP," 2011. [Online]. Available: www.unhcr.org. [Accessed 2015].
[8] A. Heshmati, "Integrated water resources management in Kurdistan Region," Nova Science, New
York, 2009.
[9] World Health Organization, "Iraq Briefing - Northern Governorates: Water Quality," 2000.
[10] C. Tavaglia, "Groundwater search by remote sensing: A methodological approach," Food and
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2003.
[11] F. A. Ghaib, "The Assesssment of Erbil Aquifer using Geo-Electrical Investigation (Iraqi Kurdistan
Region)," Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 43-54, 2009.
[12] A. S. Ati, A. Ibrahim and A. R. Jubair, "Relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index (NDVI) and Some Soil Characteristics in the North of Iraq," IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Ve
terinary Science, vol. 7, no. 10, pp. 39-45, 2014.
[13] Erbil Water Directorate, "Chemical and Physical Test," Kurdistan, 2015.
[14] Erbil Water Directorate, "Bacterial Test," Kurdistan, 2015.
[15] S. Aziz, "Drawings," Erbil Water Directorate, Erbil.
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Appendix A: Erbil Water Directorate Approval
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Appendix B: General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities Approval