People s Republic of China: Songhua River Basin Water Pollution Control and Management Project

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Environmental Assessment Report

Summary Environmental Impact Assessment Project Number: 40665

July 2008

People’s Republic of China: Songhua River Basin Water Pollution Control and Management Project

Prepared by the Heilongjiang and Jilin provincial governments for the Asian Development Bank (ADB)

The summary environmental impact assessment is a document of the borrower. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of ADB’s Board of Directors, Management, or staff, and may be preliminary in nature.

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CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (as of 3 July 2008)

Currency Unit – Yuan (CNY)

CNY1.00 = $0.1456

$1.00 = CNY6.8666

ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank BOD – biological oxygen demand COD – chemical oxygen demand

EA – executing agency

EIA – environmental impact assessment EMP – environmental management plan EMU – environmental management unit EPB – environmental protection bureau ESC – environmental supervision company

FYP – five-year plan

HEPB – Heilongjiang Environmental Protection Bureau HPG – Heilongjiang provincial government

HPMO – Heilongjiang project management office

IA – implementing agency

IEM – independent environmental monitor JEPB – Jilin Environmental Protection Bureau JPG – Jilin provincial government

JPMO – Jilin project management office

MEMC – municipal environmental monitoring center MEPB – municipal environmental protection bureau

NH3-N – ammonia nitrogen

PLG – project leading group PMO – project management office

PPMS – project performance management system PPTA – project preparatory technical assistance PRC – People’s Republic of China

SEIA – summary environmental impact assessment SEPA – State Environmental Protection Administration

SO₂ – sulfur dioxide

SRB – Songhua River Basin

SRBPCMP – Songhua River Basin Pollution Prevention and Control Master Plan (2006–2010)

SS – suspended solids

SWM – solid waste management

TP – total phosphor

TSP – total suspended particulates WWTP – wastewater treatment plant

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WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

‰ – per mill (per thousand)

ha – hectare km – kilometer

km² – square kilometer

m – meter

m² – square meter

m³ – cubic meter

m³/a – cubic meters per annum m³/d – cubic meters per day mg/l – milligrams per liter

mg/m³ – milligrams per cubic meter mm – millimeter

m/s – meters per second

mu – unit of land area equal to 1/15 ha or 667 m²

t/a – tons per annum

t/d – tons per day

NOTE

In the report, “$” refers to US dollars.

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CONTENTS

Page MAPS

I. INTRODUCTION 1

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT 1

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT 8

A. Physical Environment 8

B. Ecological Resources 10

C. Water Quality and Pollution 11

D. Socioeconomic Conditions 12

IV. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 14

A. With- and Without-Project Scenarios 14

B. Project Alternatives 15

V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND MITIGATION MEASURES 17

A. Sector Impact 17

B. Potential Impact and Mitigation Measures during the Design Phase 18 C. Potential Impact and Mitigation Measures during Construction 19 D. Potential Impact and Mitigation Measures during Operations 21

E. Positive Impact and Environmental Benefits 24

F. Land Acquisition and Resettlement 25

VI. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT 25

A. Environmental Protection Investments 25

B. Environmental Benefits 26

VII. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 26

A. Objectives 26

B. Mitigation Measures 26

C. Implementing Organization and Responsibilities 26

D. Inspection, Monitoring, and Reporting Arrangements 27

E. Feedback and Adjustment Mechanism 28

VIII. PUBLIC CONSULTATIONS AND DISCLOSURE 28

A. Public Consultations Completed So Far 28

B. Future Public Participation Plan 28

IX. CONCLUSION 29

A. Benefits 29

B. Project Risks and Mitigation 29

C. Overall Conclusion 30

D. Follow-up Monitoring and Environmental Management Requirements 30 APPENDIXES

1. Environmental Management Plan (Heilongjiang Component) 2. Environmental Management Plan (Jilin Component)

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I. INTRODUCTION

1. This summary environmental impact assessment (SEIA) was prepared for the proposed Songhua River Basin Water Pollution Control and Management Project in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), under a project preparatory technical assistance (PPTA) from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).¹ Covering Heilongjiang Province and Jilin Province, which account for 85% of the Songhua River Basin (SRB), the Project comprises two components with 28 subprojects. The Heilongjiang component has 13 subprojects in water supply and wastewater treatment, and the Jilin component has 15 subprojects in wastewater treatment, solid waste management (SWM), and river improvement. Map 1 shows the location of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in the PRC. Map 2 is a topographic map of the SRB. The locations of the subprojects under the Heilongjiang component are shown in Map 3, and those under the Jilin component are presented in Map 4.

2. The Project is classified as category A by ADB for the purpose of environmental assessment. This SEIA is based on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports in the Chinese language that have been prepared by certified EIA institutes in compliance with the relevant laws, regulations, and guidelines of the PRC. The review and approval authority for the EIA reports, including the environmental management plans (EMPs), is the provincial environmental protection bureau. The PPTA consultants have provided advice to the EIA institutes and the implementing agencies (IAs) in upgrading the domestic EIA reports to fully meet the PRC’s Environmental Impact Assessment Law (2003)² and relevant regulations, and ADB’s policy requirements as stipulated in its Environment Policy (2002) and Environmental Assessment Guidelines (2003).

3. The SEIA consists of three documents. The main report contains nine chapters covering:

(i) the background of the Project, (ii) a description of the Project, (iii) a description of the environmental setting, (iv) an analysis of alternatives, (v) a summary of the anticipated environmental impact and proposed mitigation measures, (vi) an economic assessment, (vii) the environmental management plan, (viii) the results of information disclosure activities and public consultations, and (ix) conclusions. An EMP has been prepared for each of the two components. The EMPs contain detailed discussions of potential impact and mitigation measures, environmental monitoring and inspection, public consultations, implementation responsibilities, reporting and supervision, institutional strengthening and training, environmental protection investment, and mechanism for feedback and adjustment.

4. The Executing Agencies (EAs) for the Project, the Heilongjiang provincial government (HPG) and the Jilin provincial government (JPG), were fully consulted during the preparation of the EIA reports and the SEIA. They were advised that the SEIA is a document prepared for the HPG and JPG for submission to ADB. The HPG and the JPG will therefore be responsible for implementing the public consultation program, the environmental monitoring program, and the EMP in their respective provinces.

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

5. Demand for urban infrastructure in the PRC is rising with increasing urbanization, and more than half the population is expected to live in cities by 2030. The Government’s

1 ADB. 2007. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for the Songhua River Basin Water Pollution Control and Management Project (for $1.3 million, approved on 28 September). Manila.

2 PRC. 2003. PRC Environmental Impact Assessment Law. Beijing.

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11th Five-Year Plan (FYP) 2006–2010 focuses on continued urbanization and the development of large, medium, and small cities and towns. Rapid urbanization in the PRC has taken a severe toll on the environment, and has also challenged the capacity of local governments to promote good governance, effective planning and management, sustainable financing, and timely delivery of public services. While significant progress has been made in building urban infrastructure over the past two decades, the infrastructure tends to be concentrated in the more highly developed eastern and southern coastal plains. The expansion and upgrading of public services has not kept pace with rapid industrial growth. The rural migration to urban centers now taking place in the inland regions, in response to government policies to promote economic development and job creation in these areas, is putting further strain on urban infrastructure and services.

6. Cities in the north and west and around the SRB are experiencing widespread pollution from the discharge of untreated wastewater and improper management of solid waste.

Shortages of safe drinking water are also common, particularly in the northern part of the PRC.

The Government has classified more than 108 cities as having serious water problems and 60 as being critically short of water. Municipal wastewater is a major contributor to the pollution of the PRC’s rivers and lakes, with the most severe pollution impact in the northern region of the PRC. Only about 40% of urban wastewater in the PRC is treated, and the rest is discharged untreated into rivers and lakes. Cities and towns in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces must overcome widespread environmental degradation while meeting increasing demand for public services, to ensure that their economic development is sustainable.

7. The SRB is the third-largest river basin in the PRC after the Yangtze and Yellow rivers. It has an area of 557,000 square kilometers (km²) and a population of 62 million. Major cities such as Changchun and Harbin and the PRC’s largest oil fields are located in the SRB. Agriculture is well developed and there is a large industrial base. The Songhua River’s catchment area covers portions of three provinces—Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Changchun is in the upstream part of the Songhua River, which flows through Harbin.

After Harbin, the river joins the Heilongjiang River, enters the Russian Federation, and eventually discharges to the sea.

8. The SRB is seriously polluted and is acknowledged by the Ministry of Environmental Protection as being one of the four most polluted river basins in the PRC. Water pollution issues in the SRB, especially in relation to the protection of drinking-water resources for the municipality of Harbin, have received increased national and international attention because of a widely publicized pollution incident in the SRB in November–December 2005. The Songhua River is contaminated with a number of known and suspected trace organic chemicals, metals, and conventional pollutants. It is classified by the Government as class IV³ (falling below class V during the 6-month low-flow winter season), and is considered unsuitable for municipal domestic water use. In March 2003, ADB approved the Harbin Water Supply Project ($100 million) to address the drinking-water needs of the 3 million people of Harbin City from an alternative water source (Lalin River), since the existing source from the Songhua River was highly polluted.

Because of the deteriorating quality of water in the Songhua River, the Harbin municipal government expedited the construction of the Harbin Water Supply Project, which was completed 1 year ahead of the original schedule.

3 The water quality standards of the PRC have five classes of quality covering about 40 pollution parameters. Class I water is pristine, while class V water is suitable only for industrial use.

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9. During the processing of the Harbin Water Supply Project, extensive dialogue was conducted with the Government on addressing pollution control in the SRB. Consequently, in 2002, ADB provided technical assistance (TA) for the Songhua River Water Quality and Pollution Control Management project.⁴ The TA, which was highly successful, had the following impact. First, a long-term vision was developed for the SRB. It consisted of a strategic plan with water quality objectives, targets, and reforms and proposed improvements in river basin and pollution control management practices, and a long-term physical investment program. Second, the capacity of key organizations responsible for pollution control and management at both the river basin and the regional level was strengthened, and a road map outlining the key milestones leading to the development of a true and unique river basin management framework within the PRC was prepared. Third, knowledge gaps relating particularly to nonpoint sources of pollution, water quality assessment (notably micro-pollutants), and water quality inventories were identified. Fourth, an overall strategic plan was developed for the SRB. The plan refined and prioritized the strategic plans developed by different institutions at different levels (river basin and provincial level) on the basis of the river’s carrying capacity. It also identified an investment plan for the next 15 years. Finally, the Government was assisted in developing a long-term water pollution control plan for the SRB beyond 2010, and strategic policy inputs to the 11th FYP and the SRB Pollution Prevention and Control Master Plan (SRBPCMP) were provided. The SRBPCMP (2006–2010), approved by the State Council on 29 March 2006, is an action program with pollution control targets for 2006 to 2010. By 2010, urban environmental pollution and ecological damage should have been brought under control, according to the SRBPCMP, and the wastewater treatment rate in large and medium-sized cities should not be less than 70%.

10. The Jilin Water Supply and Sewerage Development Project ($100 million), approved in 2005, was the first major ADB investment that directly addressed pollution control in the SRB.

The Jilin Urban Environmental Improvement Project ($100 million), approved in 2007, was the second, and followed the priority list of the SRBPCMP. The proposed Project, with an indicative ADB loan of $200 million, would be the third major ADB investment in the SRB; it also follows the priority list of the SRBPCMP. This comprehensive strategic approach to addressing pollution control in the SRB will serve as a good model for demonstration and replication elsewhere in the PRC.

11. Underdevelopment of wastewater collection and wastewater treatment in the project cities and counties in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces leads to the discharge of untreated wastewater into local rivers, and eventually to the pollution of the SRB. Water quality in some sections of the Songhua River and its tributaries does not meet the class V surface water quality standards of the PRC. Because of inadequate wastewater management, local rivers are degraded, pose a threat to public health, and adversely affect the quality of life in the project cities and counties. There is an urgent need to expand the sewer network and wastewater treatment capacity in the project cities and counties to improve water quality in the SRB.

Heilongjiang has identified 13 subprojects, in water supply and wastewater treatment, and Jilin has identified 15 subprojects, in wastewater treatment, SWM, and river improvement. Sector and project lending options have been thoroughly discussed and considered as alternative approaches. The Government has expressed its strong preference for the project lending approach because all subprojects have been identified and the feasibility study reports have been completed. All the subprojects in the proposed Project will have one common impact,

4 ADB. 2002. Technical Assistance to the People’s Republic of China for Songhua River Water Quality and Pollution Control Management (for $1.0 million, approved on 19 December). Manila.

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which is to improve the urban environment and the quality of life in the project cities and counties, and will contribute significantly to pollution control in the SRB.

12. In Heilongjiang Province, the cities and counties where the proposed water supply subprojects are located rely primarily on surface water for their water supply. Under normal conditions, water demand is expected to exhaust developed capacity in the project cities and counties by 2010. These cities and counties experienced supply problems during a severe episode of drought in 2004 leading to dangerously low water levels in the reservoirs and a resulting loss of effective treatment plant capacity. They also experienced low pressure and supply interruptions.

13. In Jilin Province, the cities and counties have domestic SWM interventions featuring domestic waste pickup, extensive informal recovery of recyclables, and disposal in a managed landfill. The present landfill sites will be fully utilized within 2–3 years; the timely construction of new domestic solid waste treatment facilities is therefore urgently needed.

14. The Project is consistent with ADB’s water policy and will help the PRC achieve Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 10, which sets the 2015 target of halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The Project is also consistent with ADB’s strategic objectives in the PRC to make markets work more efficiently through infrastructure development and to promote environmental sustainability.

15. The proposed interventions under the Project are grouped by province. The Heilongjiang component covers 11 cities and counties—Fujin City, Tangyuan County, Tonghe County, Yanshou County, Fangzheng County, Harbin City, Jiamusi City, Nenjiang County, Qiqihar City, Qitaihe City, and Shuangyashan City. The Jilin component covers 16 cities and counties—

Dehui City, Gongzhuling City, Fusong County, Fuyu County, Jingyu County, Liuhe County, Tonghua County, Yushu City, Da’an City, Huadian City, Huinan County, Jiaohe City, Meihekou City, Tongyu County, Baishan, and Changbaishan Mountain Administrative Committee. The 13 subprojects under the Heilongjiang component deal with water supply and wastewater treatment. The 15 subprojects under the Jilin component focus on wastewater treatment, SWM, and river improvement.

16. The proposed subprojects in the two provinces are described in Tables 1 and 2. In addition, the Project will also include an institutional capacity-building component, whereby a series of training programs will be conducted for the EAs, IAs, contractors, local communities, and other key stakeholders. The training programs will cover, among other things, environmental laws and regulations, implementation of the EMP, environmental technologies and equipment, environmental facility operation and maintenance, environmental monitoring and inspection and reporting, community-based environmental awareness and hygiene, and international experience and best practices.

Table 1: Subprojects for the Heilongjiang Component

Subproject Description Water Supply

Fujin City

Water Supply Expansion

Capacity: 20,000 m³/d

34.228 km of water distribution networks Deep-pumped wells and 5 pump stations

Service population: 137,000 (2012), 165,000 (2020)

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Subproject Description Tangyuan County

Water Supply

Capacity: 10,000 m³/d 5 pumped wells

1 km of water supply pipelines from wells 15.48 km of water distribution networks

Service population: 80,000 (2010), 100,000 (2020) Tonghe County

6 deep-pumped wells with 6 pump stations 2.5 km of water supply pipelines from wells 26.758 km of distribution networks

Service population: 90,000 (2015), 120,000 (2020) Yanshou County

39.727 km of distribution networks with pipelines Service population: 95,000 (2010), 100,000 (2020) Total for 4 Water Supply

Subprojects

59,500 m³/d of water supply capacity 119.693 km of networks pipeline 16 pumping wells

Service population: 402,000 (2010) and 485,000 (2020) Wastewater Treatment

Fangzheng County

WWTP + Sewerage Network

15,000 m³/d of WWTP with high-density sedimentation tanks and biological aerated filter technology

25 km of sewer networks

Service population: 60,000 (2010), 85,000 (2020) Fujin City

WWTP

28.26 km of sewer networks

Service population: 137,000 (2012), 165,000 (2020) Harbin City

Xinyigou District WWTP

100,000 m³/d of WWTP with A²/O technology;

34 km of sewer networks;

Service population: 3,940,000 (2010), 4,600,000 (2020) Jiamusi City East District

WWTP + Effluent Reuse

40,000 m³/d of effluent reuse plant with air filtration technology 18.67 km of reuse water distribution pipelines

Used as supplementary supply of cooling water for a power plant Nenjiang County

WWTP + Sewerage Network

15,000 m³/d of WWTP with A²/O technology 11.728 km of sewer networks

Service population: 150,000 (2010), 194,000 (2020) Qiqihar City

WWTP (Phase II)

100,000 m³/d of WWTP with CASS technology 2.5 km of sewer pipes

Service population: 1,344,000 (2010), 1,564,000 (2020) Qitaihe City

Effluent Reuse

40,000 m³/d of effluent reuse plant with CAST technology 8.5 km of reuse water distribution pipelines

Used as supplementary supply of cooling water for Qitaihe Datang Power Generation Co. Ltd.

Shuangyashan City WWTP

50,000 m³/d of WWTP with A²/O technology;

21.8 km of sewer networks.

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Subproject Description Service population: 342,500 (2010), 425,000 (2020).

Tangyuan County WWTP

Service population: 80,000 (2010), 100,000 (2020) Total for 9 WWTPs 390,000 m³/d of wastewater treatment

Service population: 6,053,500 (2010), 7,133,000 (2020) Grand Total Total volume of water supply: 49,500 m³/d

Total length of water supply pipelines: 118.793 km 16 pumping wells

Total volume of wastewater treatment: 381,000 m³/d Total length of sewerage networks: 143.903 km Total length of reuse water supply pipeline: 27.17 km

Total service population: 6,455,500 (2010), 7,618,000 (2020)

A²/O = anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic process, CASS = combustion air saturation system, CAST = cyclic activated sludge technology, km = kilometer, m³/d = cubic meters per day, WWTP = wastewater treatment plant.

Source: NREM. 2008. Songhua River Basin Pollution Control and Management Project, Draft Final Report. Prepared by NREM International Inc. for the Asian Development Bank.

Table 2: Subprojects for the Jilin Component

Subproject Description Wastewater Management

Dehui City WWTP

30,000 m³/d of domestic sewage with A²/O + biological filter technology

35.752 km combined sewage and storm-water sewers Service population: 210,000 (2010), 280,000 (2020) Gongzhuling City Fanjiatun

Town WWTP

20,000 m³/d of WWTP with BIOLAK technology 48 km of sewer pipelines

Service population: 100,000 (2010), 130,000 (2020) Gongzhuling City

Sewage Network Upgrade

59 km of sewer pipelines for urban sewerage networks upgrade 1 booster pumping station

Service population: 166,600 (2010), 342,400 (2020) Fusong County WWTP 20,000 m³/d of WWTP with CAST technology

32 km of sewer pipelines

Service population: 85,000 (2010), 149,000 (2020) Fuyu County

WWTP

30,000 m³/d of WWTP with BIOLAK technology

51.792 km of combined sewage and storm-water sewers Service population: 168,000 (2010), 249,000 (2020) Jingyu County

WWTP

20,000 m³/d of WWTP with BIOLAK technology

55.01 km of combined sewage and storm-water sewers Service population: 89,200 (2010), 118,000 (2020) Liuhe County

WWTP

10,000 m³/d of WWTP with Hydrolyzation-AICS technology 19.44 km of sewer pipelines

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Subproject Description Service population: 125,000 (2010), 150,000 (2020)

Tonghua County WWTP 15,000 m³/d of WWTP with CAST technology 39 km of sewer pipelines

Service population: 55,000 (2010), 70,000 (2020) Yushu City WWTP 30,000 m³/d of WWTP with CASS technology

18.56 km of sewer pipelines

Service population: 263,000 (2010), 352,000 (2020) Total for 9 WWTPs 175,000 m³/d of wastewater treatment

358.554 km of sewer and storm pipelines

Service population: 1,261,800 (2010), 1,840,400 (2020) Solid Waste Management

Da’an City Sanitary Landfill

Sanitary landfill with a total capacity of 3.76 million m³ and daily processing capacity of 260 t/d of domestic solid waste

22 years of service life

Service population: 160,000 (2010), 210,000 (2020) Fusong County

Sanitary Landfill

Sanitary landfill with a total capacity of 657,000 m³ and daily processing capacity of 150 t/d of domestic solid waste 10 years of service life

Service population: 85,000 (2010), 149,000 (2020) Huadian City

Sanitary Landfill

Service population: 220,000 (2010), 290,000 (2020) Huinan County

Sanitary Landfill

Service population: 130,000 (2010), 170,000 (2020) Jiaohe City

Sanitary Landfill

16.8 years of service life

Service population: 160,000 (2010), 200,000 (2020) Jingyu County

Sanitary Landfill

Sanitary landfill with a total capacity of 550,000 m³ and daily processing capacity of 77.6 t/d of domestic solid waste 12.5 years of service life

Service population: 67,500 (2010), 110,000 (2020) Liuhe County

Sanitary Landfill

Service population: 121,900 (2010), 153,000 (2020) Meihekou City

Sanitary Landfill

Service population: 281,000 (2010), 363,000 (2020) Tongyu County

Sanitary Landfill

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Subproject Description 24 years of service life

Service population: 111,200 (2010), 117,300 (2020) Yushu City

Sanitary Landfill

Service population: 192,100 (2010), 229,700 (2020) Total for 10 SWM Subprojects Total landfill capacity: 20.09 million m³

Total daily processing capacity: 2,227.6 t/d

Service population: 1,528,700 (2010), 1,992,000 (2020)

River Improvement Changbaishan Mountain Administrative Committee

2 wastewater treatment stations with total capacity of 3,100 m³/d in Baixi Township (2,000 m³/d) and Manjiang Township (1,100 m³/d);

effluent will be fully used in landscaping and car washing, etc., in summer and snow making in winter

Sewers: 9 km (5.4 km in Baixi, and 3.6 km in Manjiang)

3 solid waste collection stations with total capacity of 40 t/d in Baixi Township (15 t/d), Manjiang Township (5 t/d), and Donggang Township (20 t/d)

Service population: 42,500 present permanent residents of Baixi Township, Donggang Township, and Manjiang Township; 55,000 (2010); 73,000 (2020)

Tourists: 15,000/day at peak season, average 8,000–10,000/day Grand Total Total volume of wastewater treatment: 178,100 m³/d

Total length of sewers: 367.554 km

Total capacity of sanitary landfills: 20.09 million m³

Total daily processing capacity of solid waste: 2,367.60 t/d Total service population: 2,900,500 (2010), 3,978,400 (2020)

A²/O = anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic process, BIOLAK = a multistage combined anaerobic and aerobic wastewater treatment process, CASS = combustion air saturation system, CAST = cyclic activated sludge technology, km = kilometer, m³/d = cubic meters per day, t/d = tons per day, WWTP = wastewater treatment plant.

Source: NREM. 2008. Songhua River Basin Pollution Control and Management Project, Draft Final Report. Prepared by NREM International Inc. for the Asian Development Bank.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

17. The SRB covers most parts of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces and the eastern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with 25 prefectures and prefecture-level municipalities and 105 counties and county-status cities and urban districts. The catchment area totals 556,800 km². At the end of 2005, the total population within the SRB was more than 62 million, and the urbanization rate stood at 50%.

A. Physical Environment 1. Location

18. Heilongjiang Province is in the northeast of the PRC, at the highest latitudes and the northernmost end of the country. It neighbors the Russian Federation across the Heilongjiang and Wusuli rivers running in its north and east, respectively; in the west, it adjoins the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region; and to its south is Jilin Province. The province covers an area of

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454,000 km², accounting for 4.7% of the nation's total. Under its jurisdiction are 13 prefectures and cities, 66 counties and county-level cities, 1,211 townships (towns), and 14,488 villages.

19. Jilin Province is in the central part of northeast PRC, adjoining Heilongjiang Province in the north, Liaoning Province in the south, and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in the west. It is adjacent to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the southeast across the Tumen and Yalu rivers. The territory of the province covers 187,400 km² between 122°–131° E and 41°–46° N, accounting for 2% of the country’s total. The land is high in the southeastern part and low in the northwestern, with vast plains lying in its midwest.

2. Meteorology

20. Heilongjiang has a continental monsoon, subarctic climate. Winters are long and frigid, with the lowest average temperature of –28°C to –18°C in January, and summers are short and cool with an average of 18°C to 23°C in July. Annual average temperatures range from –4°C to 4°C. The temperature difference between the northern and southern parts of the province is 8°C.The annual average rainfall is 500 to 600 millimeters (mm), concentrated in the summer months.

21. Jilin has a northerly continental monsoon climate, with long, cold winters and short, warm summers. In January the lowest average temperatures range from –20° to –14°C.

Summers are short and cool, with an average of 20°C to 25°C in July. The yearly average temperature in most parts of the province is 3°C–5°C. The average annual precipitation in the province is 550–910 mm, concentrated in the summer months.

3. Topography

22. The topography of Heilongjiang Province is characterized by mountains in the northwest, north, and the southeast, and lowland in the northeast and southwest. In its northwest are the Greater Hinggan Mountains, and in the north, the Lesser Hinggan Mountains. In the southeast are the ridges of Zhangguangcai, Laoye, and Taiping, in addition to the Wanda Mountains. The Nenjiang and Songhua rivers run across the province from south to north, forming the Sanjiang (“three rivers”) Plains in the northeast and the Songhua–Nenjiang Plains in the southwest. The well-known Xingkai Lake lies in the southeast. Hills and mountainous areas, with heights ranging from 300 to 1,780 meters (m) above sea level, account for 70% of the total land mass of the province. Plains, lying 50–250 m above sea level, make up about 30% of the total area.

23. The eastern part of Jilin Province is the mountainous area of the Changbai Mountains, with an elevation of more than 1,000 m, and the Jidong Hills, 500 m above sea level or lower.

Other mountain ranges include the Jilinhada, Zhangguangcai, and Longgang mountains. Jilin is drained by the Yalu and Tumen rivers in the extreme southwest (which together form the border between the PRC and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), by tributaries of the Liao River along the southern border, and by the Songhua and Nenjiang rivers, both eventually flowing into the Amur. In the western part of the province are the Songhua–Liao Plains, whose low and flat western section is the grain production base of the province.

4. Hydrology

24. The Songhua River originates from two main sources, the Nenjiang and Second Songhua rivers, which meet near Songyuan to form the Songhua River. From this confluence, the Songhua River flows easterly to join the Heilongjiang River on the boundary between the

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Russian Federation and the PRC. About 54% (300,000 km²) of the area is in the Nenjiang River catchment area and 13% (73,000 km²) in the Second Songhua catchment area. The remaining 33% (184,000 km²) is immediately adjacent to the Songhua River main channel. The average annual rainfall in the SRB is low, varying from less than 400 mm in the west to more than 800 mm in the east. Most rainfall occurs in June–September, and average rainfall in a wet year may be three times that in a dry year.

25. The SRB is demarcated by three mountain ranges—the Greater Hinggan Mountain Range, which lies along the west and southwest border of the basin in Inner Mongolia; the Lesser Hinggan Mountain Range, which limits the north and northeast part of the basin; and the Changbaishan Mountain Range, which serves as the divide for the south and southeast part of the basin. The forest cover in these ranges provides good protection for the water resources of the area and the cascade multipurpose reservoirs developed along the Second Songhua River.

The other significant landforms are the Songhua–Nenjiang and Sanjiang floodplains.

B. Ecological Resources

26. In 1999 and 2001, the Government of the PRC selected Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces to become two of the country’s three experimental “ecological provinces,” acknowledging their rich biodiversity and potential for sustainable management of natural resources.

27. Heilongjiang Province has 44.37 million hectares (ha) of soiled land with rich organic matter, of which 40% is suitable for farming. It is known as one of the world’s three major black-soil zones—67.6% of its total farmland of 11.80 million ha is cultivated on black soil, marshland, or black calcium soil. Furthermore, the province has 4.33 million ha of pastures and 4.793 million ha of farmland reserves. Heilongjiang ranks first among the PRC provinces in farmland and forest area, seventh in pasture area, and second in farmland reserves. Its total farmland area and land reserves together account for one tenth or more of the country’s total.

The average per-capita farmland and the average per-capita area of farmland operated by individual farmers are three times the country’s average. With 41.9% of its land covered with forest, Heilongjiang ranks first among all the PRC provinces in forested area, forest resource reserves, and timber output. The province has the largest forest industry in the country, occupying a very important position in the PRC’s forest ecosystems. It is the most important state-owned forest area and the largest timber center in the PRC. In its forests are more than 100 species of trees, including 30 of high use value. Natural forests are mainly distributed in the Greater and Lesser Hinggan Mountains and the Changbaishan Mountains.

28. Jilin Province is one of the PRC’s six major forested areas. Stretching about 500 km, the Changbaishan Mountains are renowned for their biodiversity and natural beauty. The land used for forestry in the province covers 9.72 million ha, accounting for 51.37% of the province’s total and ranking 12th in the country. The province’s forest coverage is 42.4%. The highest summit in the province, the White Cloud Peak of the Changbaishan Mountains, is 2,691 m above sea level. The prairies in western Jilin are in the center of the Songhua–Nenjiang Prairies, one of the famous grasslands in the PRC. The prairies are known for their rich forage grasses, most of which are perennial rootstock and bushy grasses. They are also one of the breeding bases of commercial cattle and fine-wool sheep in northern PRC. There are 4.379 million ha of grassland in the province, mainly in its western and eastern parts. Its western part is the easternmost edge of the Euro-Asian grassland, where there are rich water resources and good-quality grass. This is undoubtedly Jilin’s animal husbandry base.

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29. Forests in the SRB are mostly secondary-growth and man-made. The forest resources include larch, lime, mulberry, birch, Korean pine, spruce, Manchurian ash, camphor, and other economically valuable trees. Shrubs include hazel, M. baccata Borkh, wild siris (Albizzia kalkora Prain), and wild rose. Grasses include five-flowered herbosa, meyer sedge (Carex meyeriana Kunth), little-leaf camphor and reeds. Wild fruits include grapes, wild pears, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pine nuts. Edible wild herbs include brake, needle-beard edible fungi, and day lily.

30. Fauna found in the SRB includes bears, wild boar, deer, foxes, and wolves. Common wild animals include squirrels, chipmunks, hares, voles, frogs, and snakes. Bird species include chickadees, magpies, cuckoos, bulbuls, pheasants, and owls. Fish species include carp, pike, spotted silver carp, loach, catfish, northern grunter, willow-root fish, calabash fish, grass-root fish and other cold-water species. Livestock breeding plays an important role in the agricultural economy. Domesticated animals and poultry include cattle, horses, mules, donkeys, pigs, sheep, rabbits, dogs, chickens, and geese.

31. Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces are nationally important commodity grain and soybean producers. In the agricultural areas, the main farm crops are corn, soybean, paddy rice, wheat, barley, and sorghum. Other important crops are beans, sugar beet, flax, and tobacco.

C. Water Quality and Pollution

32. Because of rapid population growth, industrialization, and urbanization, the Songhua River is heavily polluted, primarily by organic pollutants. A basin-wide water quality assessment made in 2005 indicated that 34% of the monitored sections had water quality at or below the class V surface water quality standards of the PRC (GB3838-2002) (see footnote 2); this percentage jumps to 45% during the low-flow, frozen season. The tributaries with pronounced pollution include the Hulan, Anbang, Namo’er, Huifa, Yinma, Yitong, Ashi, Woken, and Mudanjiang rivers, whose water quality is class V. These tributaries contribute significantly to pollution in the mainstream Songhua.

33. In the SRB, there are 48 major drinking water supply source areas that serve a total population of about 13.9 million. These include 32 surface water supply source areas, which account for about 90% of the volume of water supply in the basin, and 16 groundwater supply source areas, which account for the remaining 10%. In the past few years, a number of drinking water supply sources—such as the Sifangtai Water Supply Source Area for Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province, Hailong Reservoir for Meihekou in Jilin Province, and Zhuo’erhe River for Xing’an Prefecture in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region—have experienced water pollution, which threatens the safety of the drinking water supply.

34. The major water pollutants in the SRB include potassium permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), total phosphor (TP), oils, and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Water quality at four state-monitored sections does not meet the prescribed standards for designated uses.

During the 10th FYP (2001–2005) period, water quality in the mainstream Songhua deteriorated further, as the pollutants discharged in the SRB increased yearly. By 2005, the volume of wastewater discharged in the SRB amounted to 1.98 billion cubic meters (m³), and COD 784,000 tons, making the SRB the largest recipient of organic pollution among the PRC’s top seven river basins. The seven largest cities in the SRB, including Harbin, Changchun, Mudanjiang, Qiqiha’er, Daqing, and Jiamusi, each discharged more than 100 million m³ of wastewater yearly. They accounted for 68% of the COD discharged in the entire basin.

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35. As expected, water pollution is more pronounced in sections passing by or through urbanized areas, indicating that municipal sewage is a primary source of pollution. In fact, urban sewage accounts for about 60% of the total wastewater discharged by volume in the entire SRB. However, sewage treatment facilities seriously lag behind. At the end of 2004, only 14 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with a total capacity of 1.57 million cubic meters per day (m³/d) and actual treatment of 0.70 million m³/d, were operating. The rate of sewage treatment stood at less than 15%. For large cities with a population of more than 500,000, including Harbin, Changchun, Daqing, and Mudanjiang, the sewage treatment rate was below 40%. Most, if not all, medium-sized and small cities and towns discharge their raw sewage directly into the river, becoming the major sources of pollution for the Songhua.

36. As part of the SRBPCMP, pollution source and water quality monitoring in the SRB is being strengthened to cover the major polluters and sections. Online 24-hour monitoring equipment will be installed at more than 200 of the most polluting enterprises to closely monitor their effluent discharges. Provincial and key municipalities will have the equipment to regularly monitor toxic substances. Environmental monitoring stations at the county level will be fitted with monitoring equipment that will meet national standards. The existing 41 state-controlled monitoring stations in the SRB will be consolidated into 28, and 10 automated water quality stations will be established. This basin-wide complete monitoring network, the first of its kind in the PRC, is expected to be operating by the end of the 11th FYP (2010), providing full coverage and simultaneous monitoring of the drinking water supply sources and interprovincial and inter-municipal waterways in the SRB.

37. An environmental emergency response system is taking shape in the SRB. The system meets the standards prescribed in the National Environmental Emergency Response Plan (2006).⁵ The system entails command, coordination, response, and decision making. It is led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and involves the State Council Emergency Response Office; the Ministries of Communications, Public Security, Water Resources, and Construction;

the State Safety Supervision Administration and the State Meteorological Administration; and their provincial and municipal counterparts. A successful drill exercise was conducted on 26 January 2007.

D. Social and Economic Conditions

38. Selected socioeconomic indicators of Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces are provided in Table 3.

Table 3: Socioeconomic Indicators of Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces (2005)

Indicator Heilongjiang Jilin PRC

Land mass 454,000 km² 187,400 km² 96,000,000 km²

Population Birth rate: 7.87‰

Mortality rate: 5.2‰

Total population at the end of 2005: 38.20 million

Birth rate, 7.89‰; mortality rate, 5.32‰. Total

population at the end of 2005: 27.16 million

Birth rate: 12.4‰

Mortality rate: 6.51‰

Total population at the end of 2005: 1,307.56 million

GDP CNY551 billion

Increase over 2004: 11.6%

CNY361.49 billion

CNY18,232.10 billion Increase over 2004: 9.9%

GDP ratio (primary,

Value added:

- primary industry:

Value added:

- primary industry:

Value added:

- primary industry:

5 SEPA. 2006. National Environmental Emergency Response Plan. Beijing.

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Indicator Heilongjiang Jilin PRC secondary,

and tertiary industries)

CNY67.25 billion, up 9.2%

over 2004

- secondary industry:

- tertiary industry:

GDP ratio of the three sectors: 8.5:61.9:29.6

over 2004

GDP ratio of the three sectors: 16.8:44.4:38.8

CNY2,271.80 billion, up 5.2% over 2004

CNY8,620.80 billion, up 11.4%

CNY7,339.5 billion, up 9.6%

GDP ratio of the three sectors: 12.4:47.3:40.3 Investment

in fixed assets

CNY179.42 billion

CNY180.20 billion

CNY8,860.4 billion

Agriculture Total agricultural output:

CNY129.75 billion, up 11.1% over 2004

Total grain output: 36 million tons

Total grain production:

25.812 million tons, up 2.8%

over 2004

Total grain production:

484.08 million tons, up 3.1%

over 2004

Industry Total industrial value added:

Total industrial value added:

CNY7,619.0 billion, up 11.4% over 2004

Imports and exports

Total value of imports and exports: $9.57 billion, up 40.9% over 2004

- exports: $6.07 billion, up 64.9%

- imports: $3.5 billion, up 12.6%

Total value of imports and exports: $6.53 billion, down 3.9% over 2004

- imports: $4.06 billion, down 20.0%

Total value of imports and exports: $1,422.1 billion, up 23.2% over 2004

- imports: $660.1 billion, up 17.6%

Education Number of students enrolled in graduate degree

programs: 169,000

Number of students enrolled in graduate degree

programs: 132,000

Number of students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs: 5,050,000

Public health

8,230 medical and

health-care institutions, with 120,000 beds and 149,000 medical professionals and technicians at year-end

8,219 medical and

health-care institutions, with 86,400 beds and 161,500 medical professionals and technicians at year-end

About 300,000 medical and health-care institutions with about 3,070,000 beds and about 4,456,000 medical professional and technicians at year-end

Social security

Insurance plan coverage of the population:

- endowments: 7.694 million - unemployment: 4.596 million

- medical treatment: 6.028 million

- endowments: 4.56 million - unemployment: 1.99 million

- endowments: 555.77 million

- unemployment: 106.48 million

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Indicator Heilongjiang Jilin PRC Residents’

income

Per capita disposable income of urban residents:

CNY8,273, up 10.7% over 2004

Per capita net income of rural residents: CNY3,221, up 7.2%

CNY8,691, up 10.8% over 2004

CNY10,432, up 9.6% over 2004

‰ = per mill (per thousand), GDP = gross domestic product, km² = square kilometer, PRC = People’s Republic of China.

Sources: National Statistical Bureau. 2006. China 2006 Statistical Yearbook. Beijing; Heilongjiang Provincial Statistical Bureau. 2006. Heilongjiang Province 2006 Statistical Yearbook. Harbin; Jilin Provincial Statistical Bureau.

2006. Jilin Province 2006 Statistical Yearbook. Changchun.

IV. ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES

39. During project development, various alternatives were proposed, screened, and compared against technical, economic, and environmental criteria. The environmental comparison of alternatives was primarily aimed at identifying and adopting options with the least adverse environmental impact and maximum environmental benefits. The analysis of alternatives was done in two parts, under with- and without-Project scenarios, and on project process alternatives.

A. With- and Without-Project Scenarios 1. With and Without the SRBPCMP

40. At the end of 2004, there were only 14 WWTPs for the SRB as a whole, with a daily capacity of 1.57 million m³/d and actual treatment volume of 0.70 million m³/d. The wastewater treatment rate was only 15% for the entire basin. For large cities with a population greater than 500,000, including Harbin, Changchun, Daqing, and Mudanjiang, the treatment rate was lower than 40%. In 2005, Heilongjiang Province generated 13.92 million tons of municipal solid waste, of which only 17.5% received sanitary treatment. At the end of 2005, there were 20 sanitary landfills in the province, with a daily processing capacity of 9,380 tons per day (t/d). The target for 2010 (end year of the SRBPCMP) is to reach a sanitary processing rate of 60%. For Jilin Province, the volume of municipal solid waste in 2005 surpassed 7.1 million tons, of which only 32.2% received sanitary disposal. The target for 2010 is to build 33 sanitary landfills, with a sanitary processing rate of 90% for large and medium-sized cities, and 60% for other cities. If the provinces do not take action without the SRBPCMP, the volume of wastewater and solid waste will continue to grow, resulting in the continuous degradation of water quality in the SRB.

2. With and Without the Water Supply Subprojects

41. Compared with the with-Project scenario, the without-Project scenario would result in continued shortage of reliable, good-quality water supply in the four subproject areas of Fujin City, Tangyuan County, Tonghe County, and Yanshou County in Heilongjiang Province. The situation would gradually worsen along with an increase in the pressures exerted by the growing population, economic development, and rising standards of living. The city would thus become less competitive and less attractive to outside investors, and its further development and that of its economy, as well as the further improvement of the standard of living of its citizens, would be hampered. Without the new water supply pipe network, continued leaking in the old and, in some cases, obsolete water distribution pipes and network would waste valuable resources,

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and compromise drinking water safety, reliability, and sufficiency in general. Although the with-Project scenario has some adverse impact during construction, the impact is temporary and localized and can be minimized through proper implementation of the mitigation measures.

3. With and Without the Wastewater Management Subprojects

42. The Project will improve wastewater treatment and provide for effluent reuse by industries. As a result, the amount of pollutants (COD, biological oxygen demand [BOD], suspended solids [SS], NH₃-N, and TP) entering the Songhua River system will be reduced, and the people living in the SRB will benefit from the reduced pollution. Without the Project, large volumes of wastewater would be continuously discharged into the Songhua River system, resulting directly or indirectly in continued severe pollution in the SRB.

4. With and Without the Solid Waste Management Subprojects

43. Without the Project, solid waste would be dumped in the project areas. Environmental issues related to the existing solid waste dump site are (i) strong odor around the site, especially in the summer months, resulting in large populations of flies and mosquitoes; (ii) biogas generated by the anaerobic degradation of organic waste, posing the threat of fires and risk to the health and life of scavengers living on the dump site; (iii) serious pollution of surface water and groundwater by leachate from the dump site; and (iv) serious air pollution around the sites due to dust and flying ash from the dump site and ash storage. These adverse environmental effects can be mitigated or eliminated by the proposed subprojects.

B. Project Alternatives

1. Alternatives for Water Supply Subprojects

44. Several alternative options for the water supply subprojects in Heilongjiang Province were examined. The options of withdrawing water from the river, from lakes and reservoirs, from riverside wells, and from groundwater were compared for, among other things, quality and quantity of supply, cost, and technological requirements. The most appropriate alternative was selected for a particular site. The groundwater alternative was selected for the Fujin, Tangyuan, and Tonghe water supply subprojects, and reservoir water for the Yanshou water supply subproject. The selected alternatives also took into consideration an increase in industrial water demand from industry.

2. Alternatives for Wastewater Sewer Networks

45. Sewer alignments were selected on the basis of the topography and geography (mainly for sewage collection) of the service area; construction methods and cost; minimized resettlement impact; and other features, such as the presence of major roads, railways, other underground utilities, river crossings, environmental and construction impact, operation and management, and connection to the proposed WWTP. Most of the selected alignments were along major roads to minimize environmental impact, demolition and resettlement, river crossing, and costs. Effluent outfall alternatives were assessed for all the WWTPs. The selection of sites was based on distance from the WWTP to the river, resettlement and land requirements, cost, and quality standards of the receiving water bodies. Combined sewers were adopted for old urban quarters, and separate sewers for new urban districts, because of connections with existing networks.

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3. Alternatives for Wastewater Treatment Processes

46. The proposed WWTPs will adopt secondary biological treatment technologies. Two or three alternative treatment processes were considered in each feasibility study, including the following: (i) the conventional activated sludge process (cyclic activated sludge technology [CAST]); (ii) the anaerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic process (A²/O) for the effective removal of nitrogen and phosphorus; (iii) the oxidation ditch process (biological aerated filter [BAF]), which has a higher nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency than the conventional process; and (iv) the newly developed anaerobic and oxidation process (BIOLAK, a multistage process combining anaerobic and aerobic wastewater treatment), with high phosphorus removal efficiency. The factors considered included treatment efficiency in relation to raw wastewater characteristics, environmental aspects, cost, and sludge handling. Given the varying conditions and requirements, A²/O, BAF, CAST, and BIOLAK will each be used in four WWTPs.

4. Alternatives for Solid Waste Management

47. Three technological options—landfill, incineration, and compost—were evaluated on the basis of criteria such as treatment scope, investment and operating costs, environmental impact, past experience, required land, and waste content. Because of its low organic content, low thermal value and unstable ingredients, and the existing economic situations, the sanitary landfill was deemed the best option for all the SWM subprojects.

5. Alternatives for Effluent Disposal and Reuse

48. Effluent from all the WWTPs will be conveyed by an outfall to a river, from which the water will be available for irrigation and other uses downstream. Preliminary consideration was given to industrial reuse of the effluent. However, no industrial users were identified, and under present conditions there is no economic incentive for industry to reuse effluent. Effluent from three WWTPs will be reused for industrial cooling.

6. Alternatives for Sludge Disposal

49. Incineration, landfill disposal, and production of fertilizer pellets were the options considered for sludge disposal. The factors compared included potential adverse impact, cost, and management. Sanitary landfill disposal was selected as the method of sludge disposal for most of the WWTPs. Agreements will be in place to allow the disposal of sludge at a controlled sanitary landfill by the time the plants are put into operation.

7. PPTA Contributions to Project Design

50. The PPTA has contributed to the project design in many aspects. The major contributions are summarized below:

(i) Movable containers versus transfer stations. For the solid waste in Banxi Township, a transfer station was proposed in the feasibility study report. Instead, the PPTA consultants advised the IA and the design institute to use movable garbage containers, which can be hauled away periodically. The use of movable containers will have several advantages. First, they can be conveniently placed in the neighborhood, within walking distance; no collection will be required.

Second, movable containers fit well with the surroundings of Banxi, a tourist

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town. Third, because there will be no need for collection, the use of the containers will be more cost-effective.

(ii) Landfill leachate treatment. Instead of the on-site leachate treatment stations proposed in the feasibility study reports for many landfills, the PPTA consultants advised the IAs and design institutes to transport the leachate to a nearby WWTP, whenever practical. According to the PPTA consultants, the unit cost of treating landfill leachate averages more than CNY30 per m³, compared with only CNY1–CNY2 per m³ or lower for the WWTPs.

(iii) Phased approach to landfill development. The feasibility study reports proposed building the landfills, which have a planned life of 12.5–40.0 years, all at one time. The lining could thus age before the landfills were used, the PPTA consultants said. They therefore recommended instead the development of the landfills in four or five phases, to extend the service life of the lining and save on costs.

(iv) WWTP cost estimates. After comparing the cost estimates for the subprojects, the PPTA consultants discovered that the unit costs of a couple of WWTPs were higher than normal. The IAs and design institutes reexamined the cost estimates for these WWTPs and adjusted them accordingly. For WWTPs with class IA discharge standards, the investment cost and the operation and maintenance cost need further confirmation. Accurate costs should be reflected in the detailed design to guide future procurement.

V. ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND MITIGATION MEASURES A. Sector Impact

51. The Project will contribute significantly to improving water quality in Songhua River from class V to class III, as provided in the SRBPCMP (2006–2010). The volume of treated wastewater under the Project will be about 12% of the total planned under the master plan (10%

of the Heilongjiang Province total, and 14% of the total for Jilin Province). To illustrate the impact of the Project, an SRB map showing the river sections improved as a result of the Project will be prepared. Another impact of the Project will be improved sanitation, environmental quality, and public health in the SRB in general and the project counties and cities in particular.

52. The specific project outcomes by 2010 will be as follows: (i) safe drinking water for 402,000 people in Heilongjiang Province; (ii) a 556,000 m³/d increase in domestic wastewater treatment capacity to serve 7.32 million people in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces; and (iii) a 2,341 t/d increase in capacity for the sanitary disposal of domestic solid waste to serve 1.59 million.

53. The Project will also contribute to the objectives of ADB’s water policy⁶ and help the PRC to attain the Millennium Development Goals 7, Target 10, with the aim of halving the population without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015. The project design will incorporate the experiences gained from ADB’s involvement in urban development and water resources management in the PRC through similar projects in Changchun, Harbin, Fuzhou, Nanjing, Shandong, Shanghai, Tianjin, Wenzhou, and Wuhan. Innovative options for promoting private sector participation, including the public-private partnership model developed under the Nanjing Qinhuai River Environmental Improvement Project, will be explored during

6 ADB. 2001. Water for All: The Water Policy of the Asian Development Bank. Manila.

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the Project. The Project will also build on the results of the ADB-financed flood control projects in the SRB that contributed to the development of SRB institutions.

54. Water and wastewater infrastructure can suffer significant damage or losses from climate change and extreme weather events unless proactive steps are taken to adapt them to such conditions. Climate change could increase water demand, water quality problems, and the risk of flooding, and result in water apportionment issues, loss of potable water, and sewer overflows. Water infrastructure can be adapted to withstand the effects of climate change through water conservation and demand management measures, education and awareness-raising programs, long-term planning and preparedness for droughts and severe flooding, improved water quality protection, more vigorous water monitoring, and more equitable allocation of water. The long-term water pollution control plan and SRBPCMP support such efforts.⁷ The EAs and IAs have been made aware of the impact of climate change on the water supply and wastewater infrastructure, and will incorporate adaptation measures into the Project.

55. The Project supports priority investments under the SRBPCMP and provincial environmental protection plans. Its subprojects, the first to be financed under the ADB loan, will have a demonstration effect for other SRB counties and cities that will follow suit in the next few years. The Project will also help strengthen the environmental management capacity of small cities and towns in the SRB, another national priority for the PRC.

B. Potential Impact and Mitigation Measures during the Design Phase

56. No important historical and cultural sites or rare and endangered species will be affected by any of the subprojects. Construction areas, sewer routes, landfill locations, and water supply routes will not be located in forests or grassland of ecological significance, nature reserves, or scenic areas. The original EIA reports and feasibility studies provided for the following mitigation measures during the design phase:

(i) All project sites will be carefully selected to avoid or minimize potential adverse impact on the environment and surrounding communities.

(ii) The facilities will be located and designed to minimize resettlement impact.

(iii) The technical design of the water supply plants must be adequate, and must provide for the desired treatment to meet the drinking water standards and safety of plant operations.

(iv) The water treatment plants and effluent reuse plants must also be built according to an adequate technical design, which provides for the desired water quality and waste treatment and disposal processes that meet government regulations, and are consistent with the safety of plant operations.

(v) Water treatment plants, WWTPs, water reuse plants, pump stations, and the leachate treatment facility layouts will be designed to keep sources of noise and odors as far away from nearby residential areas as possible. The WWTPs, water reuse plants, and leachate treatment facility designs will limit odor emissions and noise to acceptable levels according to existing national standards.

(vi) For SWM, landfills will be designed according to the standards of the Ministry of Construction, with proper vertical and horizontal high-density polyethylene liners (protected by geo-textile and clay and soil) and drainage control of polluted rainfall runoff to prevent seepage into groundwater. The leachate treatment

7 Infrastructure Canada. 2006. Adapting Infrastructure to Climate Change in Canada’s Cities and Communities: A Literature Review. Ottawa.

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facilities will be designed to ensure the proper collection, treatment, and disposal of the leachate. Appropriate locations will be identified, carefully examined, and compared to determine which ones will have the least impact on the environment.

(vii) In water treatment plants and water supply plants with disinfection facilities using chlorine dioxide, adequate, leakproof technical design and equipment for automated control of the chlorine treatment will be needed to mitigate impact on air quality.

(viii) For the landfills, adequate detailed technical design for the gas collection system is required to meet the standards of the Ministry of Construction.

C. Potential Impact and Mitigation Measures during Construction

57. The construction of the subprojects is expected to have the following impact:

(i) Airborne dust. Excavation, demolition, construction vehicle movement, and material handling could generate airborne dust.

(ii) Noise. Construction equipment and vehicular movement could increase noise levels, potentially affecting nearby residents and schools.

(iii) Traffic congestion. Pipeline construction along existing roads and increased construction traffic could worsen traffic congestion.

(iv) Wastewater discharge from construction camps and sites. The discharge of wastewater (sewage, cleaning water, waste oils from machinery maintenance, surface runoff) could pollute water sources adjacent to the sites. Rainwater runoff from landfill may pollute the adjacent rivers.

(v) Solid waste pollution from construction camps and sites. Construction waste, packaging material, soil, sludge, and other waste will come from construction-related activities and from the workers’ living quarters.

(vi) Soil erosion. Large amounts of soil, sand, and subsoil will be collected and disturbed during construction. When it rains, these earth piles and other disturbed land could be eroded and cause loss of soil, with detrimental impact on water quality.

(vii) Land impact. The construction activities will occupy considerable areas of land—88.9 ha of land, including 45.5 ha of farmland, will be acquired permanently, and 209.7 ha will be acquired for a limited time during the Project.

(viii) Ecological impact. In general, no plant or animal species on the national protection lists are within 300 m from the subproject sites. Any adverse impact on endangered and rare species will be negligible.

(ix) Infectious diseases. The construction near bodies of water might increase the number of flies, mosquitoes, rats, and other vectors, resulting in the spread of infectious diseases among workers and residents.

(x) Resettlement and land acquisition. Residents in the affected areas will have to be resettled, and land acquired, either permanently or temporarily.

58. Given the results of the impact assessments and the goals of minimizing adverse impact in accordance with the various standards and regulations of the PRC Government, and ADB’s safeguard policies, the following mitigation measures are proposed for the construction phase:

(i) Sewage and wastewater. Sewage and wastewater from construction camps will be collected and treated in septic tanks before being discharged to avoid contaminating the surrounding areas. Where possible, the wastewater will be