AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT FUND
KENYA: RIFT VALLEY WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION
PROJECT
UMMARY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
SUMMARY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Project Name
Country
Project Number
Department
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Date
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I.
Rift Valley Water Supply and Sanitation Project
Kenya
P-KE-E00-002
Infrastructure Department, North, East & South Region,
ONIN
February 2004
Introduction
The Rift Valley area/region is important in the Kenyan economy, especially for its agriculture and
tourism potential. However, water supply and delivery services suffer from a host of problems
including i) Inadequate water production; ii) weak institutional capacity to operate and maintain the
water supply and sanitation facilities; and iii) poor billing and revenue collection performance. These
problems reached a level where they were beginning to impact on poverty levels, as well as the health
and livelihood of the people in the area. Water shortage and quality problems caused an increase in
water borne diseases.
The project focuses on the Immediate Works to improve water supply and sanitation services. It
involves, for the Nakuru town, rehabilitation of the existing water supply and sanitation facilities to
restore production capacity to the installed capacity of 40,000 m3/day; development of a new well field
to augment capacity by 15,000 m3/day; and institutional capacity building to establish the Rift Valley
Water Services Board (RVWSB) and support the Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company
(NAWASSCO), improve billing and revenue collection performance, and to reduce unaccounted-forwater (UfW) from the current level estimated at 70%. For the other Rift Valley towns (Naivasha,
Gilgil, Narok, Kabernet, Elderma Ravine, Mogotio, Iten, Lodwar, and Kapenguria), the project will
fund studies on the immediate works that are required, and an institutional options study for
management of the water supply and sanitation in these towns. The project will also determine the
rural water supply and sanitation needs of the region and develop and implement a programme
based on the demand responsive approach (DRA) which promotes community selection, ownership
and management of the services. The project cost is estimated at KES 2,433.37 million (US$ 31.60
million or UA 23.04 million).
The Kenya Rift Valley Water Supply and Sanitation project is classified as category 1 as it involves
major rehabilitation and expansion works that directly affect Lake Nakuru, which was classified as
a RAMSAR Site in 1990.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted for the Immediate
Rehabilitation Works of Water and Sanitation Infrastructure in Nakuru and for the Olobanita
Wellfield Development. The conclusions of the EIA report were reviewed during the Appraisal
mission and upon further analysis and discussions with stakeholders, other impacts were identified
and mitigation measures proposed. The EIA Summary reflects both the findings of the EIA reports
and those made during the appraisal mission. Mitigation measures, Environmental Management
and Monitoring plan resulting from the various assessments have been included in the project
design and implementation. The preparation of the EIA and reviews were based on the African
Development Bank environmental guidelines, GOK environmental regulations and procedures, and
other relevant guidelines. For the others towns in the Rift Valley, the initial study will include an
environmental impact assessment of the immediate works to be carried out . For the rural water
supply, studies of individual sub-projects will address environmental concerns.
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II.
Description of the proposed project
The components of the project include:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
vi)
vii)
viii)
ix)
x)
xi)
Development of Olobanita Wellfield to increase capacity by 15,000 m3/day. It will consist
of 8 boreholes, pumping station and a 20 km bulk transfer main to Nakuru town;
Rehabilitation and optimization of supplies from existing sources, including the Kabatini
and Baharini groundwater sources, Meroroni water supply and bulk transfer systems. This
is expected to restore production capacity to 40,000 m3/day from the current levels of about
30,000 m3/day;
Rehabilitation and reinforcement of 15 km of water distribution system, zoning and bulk
metering and introduction of 15,800 consumer meters, meter repair kits and meter test
bench. It will also include provision of public water fountains for low-income areas;
Institutional strengthening and unaccounted-for-water management to reduce UfW from
the present level of 70% of current supply to about 25%, and improve billing and revenue
collection.
Sanitation improvements including –the rehabilitation of some existing sewers and storm
water drains, replacement of critical sewers and construction of storm water outfalls,
provision of on-site sanitation in the form of public and household latrines for low-income
areas. A public awareness and hygiene education campaign will be mounted to focus on
issues of water quality and health, water related diseases, malaria, HIV/AIDS, It will also
encourage the Municipal Council of Nakuru (MCN) to apply the Council by-laws in order
to reduce pollution of the lake catchment by industries, and address the use of untreated
sewage for vegetable gardening;
Establishment of Aquifer Management and Monitoring Programme, including the
establishment of a system for observation and monitoring of boreholes; development of
aquifer management tools such as a database system for storage, retrieval and monitoring
of hydrological and environmental data for the lake Nakuru catchment; development of an
integrated surface and groundwater model of the aquifer; equipping and reinforcement of
the capacity of laboratory for monitoring of the water quality in the catchment,
reforestation and conservation of the aquifer recharge zones focusing on the recharge areas
of Bahati and Dandori forests;
Technical Assistance for the establishment and operationalization of the Rift Valley Water
Services Board (RVWSB) and management of its contracts with various Water Service
Providers. This component will also entail provision of technical assistance to the Nakuru
Water Supply and Sanitation Services Company (NAWASSCO) to improve operations,
billing and revenue collection as well as reduce unaccounted-for-water;
Consultancy Services for preparation of detailed designs and tender documents,
procurement, construction supervision, audits, institutional strengthening; (is this a project
component?)
Study of the management options and medium and long-term investment needs of water
supply and sanitation services in the other towns within the proposed Rift Valley Water
Services Board that are currently operated by the National Water Conservation and
Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC) and Department for Water Development (DWD). (A
priority investment needs study has already been conducted for Naivasha);
Rehabilitation/extension of water and sanitation services in Naivasha and the other towns
under the RVWSB; and
Development and implementation of RVWSB rural water supply and sanitation
programme. The project will determine the rural water supply and sanitation needs of the
region, develop and implement a programme based on the demand responsive approach
(DRA) which promotes community selection, ownership and management of the services.
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III.
Policy, Legal, and Administrative framework
Existing Institutions Concerned with Environmental Management in the Project Area:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
(vii)
(viii)
(ix)
(x)
(xi)
(xii)
(xiii)
(xiv)
(xv)
The National Environment Secretariat (NES);
The National Environment Management Agency (NEMA);
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Environment (IMCE);
The District Environment Committee (DEC);
Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Wildlife(MENRW);
Ministry of Local Government (MLG);
Ministry of Water Resources Management and Development (MWRMD);
Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MALD);
National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation (NWCPC);
Water Services Boards;
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS);
Water Resources Management Authority (WRMA);
Catchment Area Advisory Committees (CAAC);
The Municipal Council of Nakuru (MCN);
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).
The applicable international conventions and treaties: 1) The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
of International Importance (1971); 2) The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992); 3) The
Cites Convention on Trade of Endangered Species (1973); 4) The Basel Convention on The
Control of Trans-Boundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (1989). Lake
Nakuru, located in the project area, was designated as Wetlands of International Importance or
Ramsar Site in June 1990, under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
especially as Waterfowl Habitats.
National Legislation, Policies and Institutions
National legislation and policies related to water management and use include: 1) The Wildlife
Conservation and Management Act; 2) The Forest Act, 3) The Water Act; 4) Agriculture Act; 5)
Public Health Act; 6) Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act 1999. The later Act
empowers stakeholder participation in sustainable management of the natural resources.
Environmental Management in the Nakuru District is mainly under the responsibility of NEMA
District Office, KWS, District Forest Office, and the District Environmental Committee.
IV.
Description of the Project Environment
The Rift Valley Water Services Board (RVWSB) extends from the north western part of the
country down to the south, and includes Nakuru District, has a population of about 3 million
inhabitants, of whom 1.187 million live in Nakuru District. About 551,000 or 18% have access to
potable water supply, which is well below the national coverage of 31%. The area has 11 urban
schemes, 5 of which, including Nakuru, are currently run by the Department of Water
Development, 4 by the NWCPC and 2 by municipal councils (Naivasha and Narok). It also has 45
rural schemes run by DWD.
Climate: In general, rainfall is highest on the hills forming the Rift Valley escarpments, reaching
approximately 1200 mm/year. There is a pronounced rain shadow effect within the Rift Valley,
where the rainfall is lower at approx. 700 - 900 mm/year. There is also a rainfall gradient from
north to south, which is particularly noticeable within the Rift Valley. Potential evapotranspiration is approximately 1500 - 1800 mm/year at Nakuru, declining slowly with elevation.
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Geography, Geological Structure and situation of the Rift Valley Lakes environment: The
Rift Valley, a tectonic structure that makes up the main geological feature of Central Eastern
Africa. The Rift Valley system has faults with a variety of orientations. This geological situation
prevents formation of significant aquifers. There is no effective surface drainage outlet in the Rift
Valley lakes and water inflows are balanced by evaporation losses and possibly limited
groundwater exchange. The lakes are highly alkaline, except Lake Naiwasha, due to the leaching
out of chemicals from within the volcanic strata that make up most of the catchment, coupled with
the subsequent concentration of salts due to evaporation. The levels of the lakes fluctuate and at
times dry off.
On the main road going to western Kenya just after the town of Limuru, the landscape suddenly
changes and the land suddenly falls into a valley 300 metres below. Across the valley, the western
side of the Rift stands like a sheer wall. The flat valley floor, with its impressive collection of
volcanic formations like the old volcanoes Longonot and Suswa, stretches as far as the eye can see.
There are several lakes in the rift valley and the largest of them all being Lake Turkana, in the
northwest of Kenya, and further south, Lake Baringo, Bogoria, Nakuru and Naivasha are found.
The volcanic soil of the Rift Valley is very fertile, and agricultural productivity is very high
especially where ther is good rainfall or at least good irrigation systems. The rift valley still has
some underground volcanic activity; as there are numerous hot springs, steam jets and geysers
bubbling up from numerous locations.
LAKE NAKURU catchment occupies an area of 1800 Km2. In this area agriculture (2/3 of the
drainage basin), forestry and tourism are major sources of revenue and all three enterprises are
heavily dependent on sound environmental management for their long-term sustainability. Most of
the forests in the catchment are part of the Nakuru National Park. The large farms are among the
most productive in the district and Lake Nakuru, which lies in the sump of the catchment, is for
ecological and economic reasons an invaluable national asset. Over the last 30 years, the
catchment basin has transformed from a sparsely settled and heavily forested area to one that is
heavily settled, extensively cultivated and urbanised. Catchment maps show a progressive decline
in the area of land under forest from 47% of the catchment area in 1970 to less than 10% of the
catchments area in 2000, leaving behind only the barest protection for its watersheds. An extensive
industrial area is rapidly growing around Nakuru City.
LAKE BARINGO lies in the solitude of the semi-desert. Hippo and crocodile are plentiful, but
visitors are entranced by the multitude of birds. 400 species have been listed in the area including
the world famous Goliath Heronry on a rocky islet in the lake (known locally as Gibraltar).
LAKE BOGORIA is set at the bottom of a trough at the base of a sheer 600 m wall the Ngendelel
escarpment. Hot water geysers and fearsome fumaroles are found on the western shoreline
evidencing the turmoil below. Game is far from plentiful but this is the most likely place in Kenya
where visitors can find and photograph Greater Kudu. The attraction of the lake apart from its
scenic magnificence is the opportunity, to see tens of thousands of flamingo and a multitude of
other water birds.
LAKE NAIVASHA is a freshwater lake with a conductivity range of 300 to 350 µS/cm; this
characteristic makes it unique in the region. It occupies a closed basin more or less circular in shape
with no apparent outlet. The open water surface of the lake normally varies between 125 and 156
km2, depending on the amount of precipitation, water inflow and water loss during a particular
period. A total area of 3,400 km2 drains to the lake. Three rivers, the Malewa, the Gilgil, and
Karati enter the lake in the northern part in a delta covered by a virtual monoculture of the giant
sedge, Cyperus papyrus. Flower growing is an important activity on the lake shores.
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LAKE ELMENTAITA is a shallow saline soda lake with an area of 18 km2 and a maximum depth
of 1.9m. The area of drainage basin is approximately 590 km2 and lies in between Lake Naivasha
basin and Lake Nakuru drainage basin at an altitude of 1776 masl. Being a closed basin lake
without any surface outflow, Lake Elmentaita’s water is highly saline with a conductivity range of
12,000 - 40,000 S/cm. Three Rivers, the Meroroni, the Mbaruk, and the Kariandusi drain in Lake
Elmentaita. River Meroroni, which drains the Bahati Plateau in the north, is the main river and is
perennial. The phytoplankton is dominated by Spirulina platensis and Spirulina laxissima which
constitute the main food for the thousands of the lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor. The
western shoreline serves as an undisturbed nesting ground for the greater flamingo, the greater
cormorant, and the great white pelican.
Current situation of Nakuru and Other Towns of the Rift Valley: The water supply in Nakuru
is inadequate obliging the population to resort to poor quality water. The sewage network covers a
very limited area is undersized and is in a poor operating condition with frequent blockages and
overflows. This situation leads to frequent water related diseases outbreaks such as typhoid,
cholera, dysentery, etc… In 1999 a cholera outbreak reported 175 cases at the Municipal
dispensaries only. Typhoid can be described as endemic with statistics increasing from 67 cases in
1995 in Municipal Dispensaries, to 204 in 2000. Gastroenteritis cases in Municipal dispensaries
were high at 588 in 1999.
Some of the sanitation problems and the behaviour of the population which have the potential to
significantly augment the incidence and outbreaks of water related diseases and can adversely
affect the success of the project include: 1) septic tank and pit latrine sludge is very commonly
discharged in the sewage network man-holes instead of on drying beds; 2) raw sewage water is
used by some farmers for irrigation of vegetable gardens creating a serious health hazard; 3) low
levels of connections to the sewerage system and poor connection of some parts of town to the
sewage network; 4) Egerton University is not connected to the sewage system and discharges its
effluents into the river, causing significant pollution; 5) The majority of industries do not have any
pre-treatment facility and discharge their effluent directly into the river or into soak-pits causing
pollution of surface and ground water resources, or into the sewage works; 6) Mechanical garages
(car and railway repair workshop) and gas stations constitute serious sources of pollution by oils,
heavy metals and toxic products; 7) domestic solid waste management and disposal is a serious
problem for a sewage network as it finds its way into the sewers and storm-water drains and create
blockages, and finally ends up into the lake Nakuru.
The studies planned in the other towns and rural areas of the Rift Valley will provide detailed
information to allow thorough analysis of the current situation and propose solutions and mitigation
of their impacts on the environment.
V.
Analysis of project alternatives
For Nakuru town, considering the baseline analysis conducted, alternatives have been considered
which concluded that under the present momentum of human settlement, growth rates, laissez-faire
development control policies, the present trends of infilling and densification in the west of the
town north of the Njoro River at Baruti and Kwa Rhoda will be difficult to stop. Therefore the noaction alternative is not viable. The economic considerations of completely curtailing population
growth and moving it to other areas of Kenya are diverse and large because the hinterland has a
high agricultural potential. The principal contributor to Nakuru’s growth is the economic potential
of agriculture on its fertile hinterland. Limitation of population growth will mean that some of the
most productive land in the nation will not be brought into full use causing a significant impact on
national food output and contributing to an increased foreign debt burden.
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The economic implications of limiting growth of Nakuru Municipality by encouraging
development in smaller urban centres in its immediate surroundings is less severe, but as indicated
above, if population growth is to continue in the area albeit at an alternate urban focal point, the
scheme to supply water will be almost identical to that proposed for Nakuru Municipality and there
would be no discernible difference in economic terms. Other alternatives considered were the
sinking of more boreholes in existing wellfields but these sites are presently exploited at maximum
capacity. The geology in the Nakuru watershed does not have any large-scale aquifer formations
which means that groundwater resources are marginal and expensive to exploit. Favourable
groundwater conditions have been found in the Olobanita area sufficient to increase water
production capacity for Nakuru Municipality by 15,000m3/day. However, the fluoride content of
the groundwater ranges from 1.2 to 4 mg/l and will be diluted to the acceptable WHO range by
mixing with water from other sources. As the population continues to increase it will be necessary
to have more projects that store run-off for use during periods of low river flow or drought.
Different dams and rivers were considered but these have been earmaked for other communities in
the National Water Masterplan, or are too expensive to develop except Itare Dam which is the next
feasible option after the Olobanita wellfield devlopment.
Different options have also been considered for disposal of waste water, i.e. discharging all waste
water into Lake Nakuru, but the option retained is to discharge treated into the Lake Nakuru up to a
limit of 33.000 m3/day, and direct the rest away from the lake. Also on-site sanitation for low
density urban areas in the short term, while connecting high density areas to the sewerage system is
the preferred option.
VI.
Potential impacts and mitigation/enhancement measures
This section of the EIA summary covers the Nakuru interventions only as the studies of the other
towns and rural areas to be carried out during the implementation of the project will address the
impacts and mitigation measures for those.
6.1
Potential impacts of immediate rehabilitation works: quantities of water discharged
into the lake: The foremost ecosystem that risks to be ultimately affected by the project is the Lake
Nakuru through water inflow.
Beneficial Impacts
It has been estimated that the lake can take discharges of up to 33,000 m3/day without any adverse
effects on its conductivity. According to the feasibility study the maximum discharge of 33,000
m3/day is expected to be reached at year 2020 which is outside the project scope. Then alternative
discharge of treated water will be required at that time.
• The number of industries and houses discharging untreated sewage into the Lake Nakuru
catchments will be reduced by connecting them to the system; therefore reducing direct
pollution of the catchment.
• Current balance of water use within the Lake Nakuru basin indicates that there is a net deficit in
Lake Nakuru. Should this continue there is a real risk that lake levels will be persistently low,
or risk drying up, thus adversely impacting the Nakuru ecosystems. Executing the project can
reverse and stabilise the trend as effective monitoring is instituted, and control placed on the
balance of water use from the various sources. Also, the Water Resources Management Strategy
under development by the Government will address this problem.
• The continuation of the Lake as a well managed wet land will contribute to its viability as a
tourist attraction and source of revenue to both the management of the Lake and the Town.
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• The high water level in the lake would maintain Spirulin sp. growth and the large number of
flamingos as well as enhance the lake’s biodiversity provided that appropriate chemical balance
is maintained. This will certainly increase the value of the Lake Nakuru National Park as a
tourist attraction.
Adverse Impacts
• A high correlation between the lake level and conductivity has been observed for Lake Nakuru,
which has a conductivity range of 10 to 165 mS/cm. Too much freshwater input is likely to
depress the conductivity below the threshold crucial for maintaining abundant Spirulina sp.
growth. Since salinity is one of the most important factor controlling phytoplankton species
composition and biomass, the lowered salinity may cause changes in the composition of the
phyto-plankton assemblage and an irreversible change in the lake’s limnological characteristics.
•
It has to be noted also that there is a low risk of failure of the sewage treatment works and
discharge of un-treated wastewater into the Lake Nakuru.
6.2
Pollutants: The provision of substantial water supply will sustain the growth of the Town
and there will be increases in nutrient and chemical pollution load that will be disposed of in the
Lake Nakuru basin due to continued industrial use. In addition the agricultural runoff from the
farms within the catchment will continue to contribute to a build up of organic pollutants, heavy
metals and pesticides in the lake. If the growth is not well planned and managed, pollution loads
will adversely affect the lake’s ecosystem in a permanent way. Past trends indicate that agricultural
run offs are potentially more damaging than those from industry.
Adverse Impacts
•
Toxic heavy metals and pesticides have adverse effects on micro-organisms (bacteria, algae,
zooplankton), invertebrates, high plants, and fish in aquatic ecosystems. Some pesticides used
by farmers in the environs of Lake Nakuru persist for long periods in the abiotic environment
and tend to accumulate up the ecological food chain. Inorganic particulate matter such as silt is
likely to increase the turbidity of the lake water, which will result in the reduction of
photosynthetic productivity and interfere with fish respiratory mechanisms. A summary from
partial results of studies of the likely adverse effects of heavy metals and pesticides on Lake
Nakuru’s biodata is given below. Current concentrations are generally below the toxic levels:
- Lead (Pb): negative to Flamingos and other birds; levels in Flamingo liver should not
exceed 12 ppm. The current concentrations are in sediments 11.89 ppm, water 0.44 ppm;
fish 3.22 ppm; algae 0.15 ppm.
- Cadmium (Cd): high levels negative to algae and birds; levels in kidney of birds should
not exceed 200 ppm. The current concentrations are in sediments 1.39 ppm; water 0.11
ppm; fish 0.27 ppm; algae 0.10 ppm.
- Zinc (Zn): negative to algae: 1.5 ppm toxic to Anacytis Nidulan. The current
concentrations are in sediments 92.62 ppm; water 0.33 ppm; fish 238 ppm; algae 0.22 ppm.
- Copper (Cu): Negative to Sprirulina; Levels should not exceed 0.05 ppm. The current
concentrations are in sediments 5.16 ppm; water 0.11 ppm; fish 3.53 ppm; algae 0.49 ppm.
The concentration of copper is much higher in the entire lake than the optimal levels.
- Mercury (Hg): Negative to birds; Levels in kidney of birds should not exceed 40 ppm;
Levels in water should not exceed 100 ppm. The current concentrations are in sediments
3.06 ppm; water 2.48 ppm; fish 3.34 ppm. Mercury concentration is low but may rapidly
increase with growing use of mercury pill-sized batteries.
- Arsenic (As): Potentially Toxic: Further work is required in order to determine specific
levels of toxicity and maximum safe levels for the management of Lake Nakuru.
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-
-
Chromium (Cr), current concentrations are in sediments 3.19 ppm; water 0.57 ppm; fish
1.05 ppm; algae 0.14 ppm.; Titanium (Ti); Selenium (Se); Iron (Fe); and Manganese
(Mn) all found in run-off are potentially toxic but the current levels are low.
DDT: is negative to fish populations (though Lake Nakuru has very little fish), and
significantly affects fish eating birds, such as cormorants by weakening the egg shell.
Levels in brain of cormorants should not exceed 50 ppm. The current concentrations are in
sediments 0.43; water 1.09. This suggests some DDT is still used although the product has
been banned.
Copper based fungicides: Negative to Algae: Level of copper should not exceed 0.05 ppm.
Available historical data show that the contaminants are increasing in the sediments.
6.3
Nutrients: Inorganic nutrients, principally nitrogen and phosphorus contained in treated
effluents, agricultural runoff and storm water are known to cause eutrophication problems in lake
ecosystems. Lake Nakuru is naturally hypereutrophic and nutrients do not seem to have a major
influence on Lake Nakuru’s phytoplankton dynamics as conductivity and pH. Nitrogen and
phosphorus concentrations in the lake are high and turnover rates are low. Phosphorus, however,
has been found to limit the lake’s productivity occasionally.
Beneficial Impacts
•
Nitrogen and phosphorus contribute to the high abundance of Spirulina, which in turn is
responsible for the large number of flamingos in Lake Nakuru.
Adverse Impacts
•
Excessive nutrient inputs are likely to cause prolific growths of the bloom-causing alga,
Microcystis flos-aquae which occurs in low density in Lake Nakuru. This algae produces
toxins which are likely to cause flamingo deaths. Continuous monitoring of the nutrient
concentrations and algal species composition is recommended as part of the monitoring
programme.
6.4
On-plot Sanitation - Construction of On-Plot Sanitation Facilities: On-plot Sanitation is
proposed for low density areas which do not as yet require sewerage, and advantage will be taken
of the relatively porous ground conditions and the deficit of rainfall when compared with
evaporation to dispose of water after consumption.
Beneficial Impacts
• On-plot sanitation is an affordable method of sanitation, which will improve access to sanitation
facilities in low income areas hence improve health.
Adverse Impacts
• Where facilities are not constructed following a code of good practice there will be fly and
odour problem and associated health risks;
• There is a risk of contamination of the groundwater resources in the shallow water table areas or
at geological faults.
• Sludge from the facilities will cause health and environmental damage if not disposed off
appropriately.
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6.5
Provision of Water to Populations en-route
Beneficial Impacts
• Safe potable water will be made available to the rural population living along the transmission
pipeline at affordable cost. This will improve their productivity and reduce the potential of
rural-urban migration.
Adverse Impacts
• Increased water flows may contribute to an increase in water borne diseases if sewage and waste
water is not correctly disposed off as planned by the project due to malfunctioning of the sewage
system, or lack of maintenance.
6.6
Storage Reservoirs: In order to service peak demands and to limit water pressures
fluctuations in the reticulation and bulk transfer schemes it will be necessary to construct two
concrete water storage reservoirs under the immediate works project. This is a positive impact of
the project, and the possible adverse impacts are minimal.
6.7
Olobanita wellfield development
Beneficial Impacts
• Improved water supply and sanitation in Nakuru Municipality and good hygiene will raise the
residents' standards of living.
• Water supply to Bahati Rural will be enhanced leading to enhanced economic development of
these areas.
• Lake Nakuru will benefit from increased wastewater flows thereby solving the problems of its
frequent drying up. The tourism industry will be enhanced.
• Planned abstraction of 15,000 m3/day is within the safe yield of the aquifer.
Adverse Impacts
• The vegetation cover, 4200 ha of the Nakuru watershed, is degraded, including the groundwater
recharge areas resulting in an alteration of the hydrogeological regime of the aquifer in the area.
This is a potential impact of the situation of the environment on the project. The sustainability of
the exploitation of the groundwater resources requires that the recharge areas are protected and
rehabilitated to avoid further degradation, improve vegetation cover and increase groundwater
recharge rates.
• Pollution from chlorine disinfectants emanating from the water purification plants.
• Uncontrolled migration of people into the area made possible by the water transmission line.
• Cross-basin water transfer resulting in impacts at the source and in the receiving basins.
• High fluoride content of the water could affect the teeth of the population.
6.8
Land take issues
Displacement of people living in zone of Olobonita wellfield does not occur in the project.
However, small parcels of land will be acquired from large scale farms at the Olobanita wellfield
and the existing wellfields to provide for protection of the well areas. The construction of new and
rehabilitation of existing boreholes, and other facilities require land acquisition and compensation
of owners will be addressed under the project.
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6.9
Proposed mitigation measures
Environmental conservation is one of the major constraints facing the district. Nakuru district has
been having a good toll of negative environmental impacts. Poor environmental management has a
negative impact on all the sector of the economy. Some of the sectors that have been affected are
fisheries, water supply, forestry and its related industries, wildlife, agriculture and livestock subsectors. Having realised this problem, the District Environmental Committee has discussed the
issue fully and Environmental Action Plan has been prepared and waiting for implementation.
In Naivasha there is the Lake Naivasha Riparian Owners Association, whose aim is to manage
existing human activities in the lake’s ecosystem through voluntary adopted sustainable principles
to ensure conservation of the lake’s resources. The District has also established Divisional
Environmental Management Committees. These committees are expected to come up with homegrown strategies on how to protect the fragile environment.
The priorities set out by the District are: combat deforestation, control rapid urbanisation, control
pollution of under-ground water resources, reduce poor farming practices and intensity of use of
chemicals and pesticides, improve enforcement of environmental by-laws.
Also contributing to the mitigation of environmental issues in the Lake Nakuru watershed are the
following programmes/projects: 1) UNCHS (Habitat) Localising Agenda 21; 2) the Strategic
Nakuru Structure plan (SNSP) and Nakuru Urban Environment project (NUEP); 3) the GEF
Environment project; and 4) NGOs activities such as the WWF, and local NGOs and CBOs.
All mitigation measures proposed below are included in the project, or are being undertaken by
other institutions in the project area. Mitigation for the adverse impacts of rural water supply and
for rehabilitation of existing water systems in small towns will be proposed in the EIA to be
prepared under the project.
Mitigating Measures of inflows to the lake Nakuru
• While the proposed project will increase the flows of water from the sewage treatment works
discharged into the lake, the increased discharges will not reach the maximum limit of
33,000m3/day. The hydrological model demonstrates that this inflow, in addition to the rainfall
run off, will limit the lake depth to about 3m in average years and to a maximum depth of 4m
every 25 years (It is necessary to calibrate this model with a continual updating of data and
improve the level of confidence). It is expected that this limitation of water will keep the lake
salinity during most years above 10mS/cm which is the lower limit of salinity required to sustain
Spirilina plantesis, the principal food source of the lesser flamingo. This monitoring is currently
being done sporadically by the laboratory, as well as by WWF, in close collaboration with
KWS. Water quality and quantity reaching the lake will be monitored.
• Sewage flow to the lake is limited also through inclusion into the project and encouraging the
use of on-plot sanitation facilities.
• To maintain the right balance of water level, salt concentration, and quality of in-flowing water,
effective management of the effluent discharges and the continuous monitoring of the physical,
chemical and biological parameters are necessary and are included in the project to provide an
early warning and allow for the implementation of corrective measures. The laboratory will do
this monitoring jointly with the sewage treatment works staff with initial support from the
project.
11
Mitigating Measures of pollution and nutrient
•
•
•
Country environmental standards will be applied and enforced by the National Environmental
Management Agency (NEMA), its Nakuru District Office and the Municipal Council.
The Government is preparing a Lake Basin Land Use and Monitoring Plan, which it will
implement and enforce. Proper management of land use will significantly reduce pollution by
farmland and other activities. The District Environmental Committee, the District Agricultural
and Forestry offices are already active in disseminating information on sustainable farming
practices and organic farming which are less polluting.
JICA is working with the municipality to develop a project for Environmental Capacity
development targeting the laboratory and developing the capacity of the municipality to apply
its by-laws. This will improve the capacity for pollution monitoring and for reducing lake basin
pollution by industries and other offenders.
Mitigating Measures of impacts from on-plot sanitation
• A public health awareness campaign and dissemination of standard designs of pit latrines and
the encouragement and support for their use with the construction of demonstration units is
recommended and included in the project. These measures will improve the living conditions of
the communities.
• Proposals for facilities suitable for Nakuru are included in the project, as well as implementation
of VIP type pit latrine of standard design, and development of appropriate drinking water kiosks.
• The Sewage Treatment works will have processing facilities to receive the sludge from on-plot
facilities. The Works proposed for Nakuru by this study incorporate this requirement and the
facilities are included in the project costs.
Mitigation of sewage and solid waste
• Sewage will be treated at 2 treatment plants to ensure that waste water reaching the lake is of
acceptable quality.
• Awareness building towards professionals and beneficiaries of the water and sewage system is
part of the capacity building included in the project to avoid discharge of sludge into the
drainage canals or sewers.
• Awareness building and monitoring of potentially harmful use of waste water, such as its use for
vegetable irrigation because of health hazards will be done by the Municipal Council, as part of
the project, to avoid diseases outbreaks and protect population’s health.
• The existing legislation on pollution and waste disposal as well as Municipal by-laws will be
enforced by the Municipal Council, which will put an emphasis on requiring the industries to
build and operate efficient sewage pre-treatment facilities.
• The Municipal Council will address the pollution problems emanating from car repair garages,
railway repair and other small workshops by ensuring their connection to the sewerage system
with proper grease traps.
• The storm drains and the lake outfalls will be fitted with filter screens to stop the solid waste
from blocking the network and getting into the lake.
• The sludge from drain cleaning will be properly disposed and not dumped at the drain sides.
The Municipal Council is committed to be proactive and instrumental for providing solutions to
the problems related to solid waste. AFD is working with the municipality to develop a project
to improve the solid waste management system.
12
Mitigation of Olobanita wellfield development
• An Aquifer monitoring and Management Programme will be established under the Project to
ensure that the safe yields of the aquifers are not exceeded.
• Rehabilitation of denuded and fragile portions of groundwater recharge areas are critical for the
sustainability of the project1. Reforesting the degraded areas is included in the project and will
use enrichment planting, i.e. spot replanting, using indigenous tree seedlings, to rehabilitate the
most degraded areas.
• High fluoride from the wellfield will be mitigated by mixing with water from the other
wellfields.
Mitigation of alteration of Regional water balance
• Catchment-wide land use planning and conservation efforts such as soil conservation,
reforestation and agro-forestry will contribute to alleviating disruption in water balance. This
effort is ongoing under the Strategic Plan for Environment and Development in Nakuru Region
implemented by KWS and WWF.
• Mitigation of cross-basin water transfer: the completion and implementation of the Water
Resources Management Sector Strategy by the end of the year will address this issue.
Mitigation of health issues
The project itself is aimed at resolving the health issues resulting from the current situation of water
supply and sanitation of Nakuru town by .
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increasing the quality and quantity of available water;
Increasing access to sanitation;
Increasing of knowledge of water related health;
Improving capacity for managing water utilities;
Improving quality of discharges into the Lake Nakuru
Improving awareness and change the behaviour of the population;
Reducing indiscriminate disposal of waste, etc...
Mitigation of land-take issues
• Land acquisition to be carried out as stipulated by the laws of Kenya. The relevant authorities
have initiated steps to acquire the required land.
• The Government and municipal authorities must initiate the required compensation based on the
surveys of the feasibility study. Land acquisition and compensation will be a project condition.
Land reserve around the well fields will be increased to improve integrity and protection of the
well from pollution in the detailed design.
VII.
•
1
Environmental Hazard Management
Malfunctioning of the treatment plants can occur at times. The consequence would be the direct
discharge of partially treated sewage into Lake Nakuru. The Municipality plans to divert the
flows and infiltrate the wastewater until the systems return to proper functionality. This seems
to be, for the time being the most appropriate approach, as the water reaching the lakes through
Although the abstraction does not reach yet the maximum possible yield of the ground water resource.
13
underground flow would have lost most of its pollutants.
•
With increasing water demands, over-pumping of the groundwater aquifers is a potential
environmental problem. Discharge of polluted effluents into the lake thereby disrupting the
ecology is another potential hazard. Regular monitoring and timely interventions will minimize
these.
VIII
Monitoring Program
The Executing Agency, in collaboration with other stakeholders such as the Municipal Council of
Nakuru, the District NEMA, Nakuru KWS Office, the Provincial Forestry Office and other
stakeholders will design, at the early stage of project implementation an Environmental Mitigation
and Management Plan (EMMP) based on the various environmental assessment findings, and
implement it along side with the various project components.
Sustainable development of the lake Nakuru basin requires that the key sources of pollution, rivers,
canals and the lake Nakuru be monitored on a regular basis. Environmental Monitoring is therefore
a key component of the project and will include die-off of the flamingo. The monitoring
component will include the establishment of a system of observation and monitoring boreholes,
development of aquifer management tools such as a database system for storage, retrieval and
monitoring of hydrological and environmental data for the lake Nakuru catchment, development of
an integrated surface and groundwater model of the aquifer, equip and reinforce the capacity of the
water quality laboratory for catchment monitoring, reforestation and conservation of the aquifer
recharge zones focusing on the recharge areas of Bahati and Dandori forests
Regular monitoring of water quality of Lake Nakuru commenced in1992 by WWF on a weekly
basis to measure parameters, namely, temperature, pH, conductivity, DO, depth & transparency, at
sixteen sites in the lake. This monitoring continues but at reduced frequencies. In addition,
monitoring of the lake and rivers has been carried out intermittently by both MCN and KWS.
Various monitoring and research activities have focussed on the flamingo species – their numbers,
seasonal migratory patterns, their pollution by heavy metals, pesticides and other organics, their
die-off and causes for these. KWS has also focussed on changes in vegetation cover in relation to
wildlife, the National Museum of Kenya looked at on birds and biodiversity, while the University
of Nairobi carried out research of the ecology of the Lesser Flamingo between 1994 and 1998.
The environmental monitoring to be undertaken within the project will complement and reinforce
the various monitoring activities that are already taking place in the lake Nakuru basin. These
include activities by institutions such as KWS, WWF, the Municipal Council of Nakuru, the
University of Nairobi, Moi University and Egerton University, the District NEMA Office, the
District Environmental Committee and the District Forestry Office.
Under the project, monitoring will also be done on:
Water supply: 1) Quality of drinking water in the town distribution network; 2) Groundwater
quality and quantity.
Health: Monitor diseases outbreaks and correlate data with water quality and sewage collection
and treatment efficiency.
Sewage: Quality and quantity of raw and treated sewage will be done partly by the laboratory.
14
The monitoring component of the project will include also analysis of health data collected by the
services of the Municipal Council and correlate them with the pollution data. This would be an
indicator for the project in the achievements of its objectives.
IX.
Public Consultations and disclosure
Throughout the process of the EIA report preparation, the public has been consulted through
meetings and seminars at the local authorities. The population have provided their inputs mainly at
major workshops and debriefings. This EIA Summary will be published on the Bank’s web-site for
public access.
X.
Complementary initiatives
A number of activities for the conservation of the lake basin environment (mentioned in different
parts of the EIA Summary) are currently being conducted or under development by different
stakeholders. Examples include the reforestation programmes for catchment protection, the
different research and monitoring programmes detailed above, the on-going UNCHS (Habitat)
Localising Agenda 21, the Strategic Nakuru Structure plan (SNSP), the Nakuru Urban
Environment project (NUEP), the Lake Nakuru Conservation and Development Project (LNCDP),
the GEF Environment project, and a number of NGOs and CBOs activities as well as the planned
activities of AFD in solid waste management and JICA in Environmental Capacity Development.
Environmental training
The Public Health Department of the Municipal Council of Nakuru is carrying out public
awareness and health education campaigns. This will be complemented by the public awareness
campaign under the project. WWF is also undertaking a massive awareness program, and will
complement the public education component planned in the project
XI.
Costing of Project Environmental Activities
Cost of rehabilitating the entire degraded areas in the watershed2:
- Cost of enrichment study:
150,750 Ksh
- Cost of producing the seedlings
15,600,000 Ksh
(5200 total ha; 1/4 rehabilitated, 800 seedlings/ha, 15ksh/seedling)
- Cost of enrichment labor:
327,687 ksh
- Total cost of enriching entire degraded areas:
16078437Ksh
US$2,010
US$208,000
US$4,369
US$214379
The mitigation costs of all other environmental impacts of the project are built-in the various
components or are being financed under separate projects being implemented by other institutions.
XII.
Conclusions, recommendations
Although the Lake Nakuru National Park is a RAMSAR site, it is expected that the adverse impacts
will be efficiently mitigated. Mitigation measures have been budgeted in the project or being
implemented by the GoK or NGOs. It is recommended that the Board approves this EIA Summary
and the project.
2
The Provincial forest Office identified these areas. The areas to be rehabilitated under the project are a fraction of it.
15
XIII. List of references /Bibliography
1. Project feasibility study and Environmental Impact Assessment
2. The Wildlife Conservation and Management Act.
3. The Forest Act.
4. The water Act.
5. Agriculture Act.
6. Public Health Act,.
7. Environmental Management and Co-ordination Act 1999.
8. The Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance (1971).
9. The Convention on Biological Diversity (1992).
10. The Cites convention on trade of endangered species (1973).
11. The Basel Convention on the control of trans-boundary movement of hazardous wastes and
their disposal (1989).
12. FAO Socio-Economic and Gender analysis Hand book for irrigation.
13. Africa development Bank: Environment guideline, involuntary displacement and resettlement in
development projects.
14. African Development Bank: Population and Health
15. Africa Development Bank: Environment Guide line irrigation.
16. World Bank: Environmental assessment source Book.
17. ADB Guidelines: ADB Procedures
18. ADB Guidelines: Crop Production
19. ADB Guidelines: EIA General Guidelines – English
20. ADB Guidelines: Fisheries
21. ADB Guidelines: Forestry & Watershed
22. ADB Guidelines: Poverty Alleviation
23. Nakuru water supply and sanitation study Environmental Impact Assessment Study report,
February 1998. National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation & MBP & Partners.
24. Nakuru Strategic Structure Plan, Municipal Council of Nakuru – Action plan for sustainable
urban development of Nakuru town and its environs; Vol 1 & vol. 2; July 1999; Republic of
Kenya, UNCHS (Habitat) & Belgian Development Co-operation.
25. The Environmental (Impacts Assessment & Audit) Regulations – Arrangement of Regulations;
Legislative Supplement number 31. Kenya Gazette Supplement number 56 of 13th June 2003.
26. Final report for Special assistance for project sustainability (SAPS II) for Greater Nakuru
water Supply project in the Republic of Kenya, SAPS Team for Japan Bank for International
Cooperation (JBIC) & its Summary, January 2002.
27. Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2001-2004 Vol I & II, Government of Kenya, June 2001
28. The First National Water Resources Management Strategy July 2003-June 2006 Final Draft,
Ministry of Water Resources Management and Development, April 2003
29. The National Water Services Strategy July 2003-June 2006, Final Draft, Ministry of Water
Resources Management and Development April 19, 2003
30. The Proposed delineation of Boundaries for Water Service Boards March 2003, Ministry of
Water Resources Management and Development
31. Immediate Works Programme- Nakuru Water Supply and Sanitation Study, Mangat, I.B. Patel
& Partners Consulting Engineers Feb 1998
32. Nakuru Water Supply and Sanitation Study Report of Institutional and Economic Aspects,
Mangat, I.B. Patel & Partners Consulting Engineers Feb 1998
33. Environment Impact Assessment for Development of Olobanita Well Field, Mangat, I.B. Patel
& Partners Consulting Engineers Dec 9 2003
34. Draft Aide Memoir Pre-Appraisal Mission Proposed Nairobi Water and Sewerage Institutional
Restructuring Project, Nov 11-27 2003, World Bank
35. Nakuru District Development Plan 2002-2008, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Government
of Kenya
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36. Kenya Gazette Supplement 30 Nov 1999 Legal Notice no 173
37.Policy for integrated water resources management. OCOD, April 2000, African Development
Bank.