Philippines - Water Districts Development Project : environmental assessment summary (Vol. 5 of 5)

X--~~~~~~~~~~!K !l~~~~L4 a.S;_,s,';,XB  I  Republic of the Philippines Local Water Utilities Administration SEWERAGE AND SANITATION PROJECT WATER DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WORLD BANK ENVIRONMENTAL LUZON ASSESSMENT REPORT CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY MINDANAO CAGArANDE ORO August 1997  I  TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 12 Chapter 2 BASELINE ENVIRONMENT - CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY 16 Section I Existing Environment 16 Section II Environmental Pollution 20 Chapter 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES 27 Section I Project Rationale and Objectives 27 Section II Sanitation 27 Section III Overall Sewerage Scheme 30 Section IV Recommended Project Design for Cagayan de Oro City 41 Section V No Project Scenario 44 Chapter 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 47 Section I Beneficial Impacts of the Project 47 Section II Project Implementation Impacts 49 Section III Summary 51 Chapter 5 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 52 Section I Mitigation Plan 52 Section II Monitoring Plan 54 Section III Implementing Arrangements 55 Appendices 1. Bibliography 2. Climatological Normals ( 1961-1995) 3. Typical Noise Emissions of Construction Equipment 4. Expected Noise Levels at Various Distances from Construction Equipment 5. Environimenital Qualitv Standards For Noise Maximum Allowable Noise Levels 6. The Advanced Integrated Pond Svstem (AlPS) of Wastewater Treatment IlvIrrfllh'1f1 ta/ . I.xcs%sesentr Repoti: ( cgavan Od r)ru ( 'It' I  I  EXECUTIVE SUIqMARY Introduction In the Philippines, the typical urban area/built-up area is characterized by a heavy concentration of activities, both commercial and industrial. It is also the area where the density of population is at its highest. These areas are also the sites where the production and consumption of raw and processed materials could be found. Consequently the, pressure on the hfe support systems in these areas are far higher than the suburban and rural areas. Adverse environmental conditions such as the generation and similarly the discharge of wastes into the environment is common in urban and built-up areas. Unfortunately, the amount, type and concentration of waste generated exceed the capacity of the local environment to absorb and assimilate them The carying capacity ofthe life support systems are stretched to the limits. The urgency of establishing collection and treatment methods to prevent adverse impacts to the health and well-being of the residents, and to the ecological systems which sustain them cannot be ignored and overstated. Most urban centers in the Philippines rely on individual septic tank systems for the treatment and disposal of wastewater from domestic and commercial buildings. However. the designs for such systems is often inadequate. Facilities for land disposal of effluents from the septic tanks are generally absent. Hence, the partially treated septic tank effluents flow directly into storm drainage systems and other receiving bodies of water, thereby exacerbating an already grave pollution situation. There are several possible options for addressing this problem, including improving the design of the septic tank system with the installation of soil absorption systems. But an environmentally sound alternative that is cost-effective and captures economies of scale is to connect individual properties directly to a sewerage system for the collection, treatment and disposal of the urban wastes. The provision of a cost-effective centralized wastewater collection. treatment, and disposal is the primary objective of the proposed Water Districts Development Project. The proposed project will assist tle local government units (LGUs) of Dagupan City, Calamba (in Laguna). Cagayan de Oro City. Davao City and Cotabato City. in finding solutions to the problem of sanitation. Financing assistance will be partly provided by the World Bank (WB) which shall be conduited through the Land Bank ofthe Philippines (LBP). Over-all administration will be exercised bv LBP's Project Manageinenit Office (PMO) with technical support provided by the Central Sewerage and Sanitatioi Pr-ogram Support Office (CPSO) of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA!. ]L/7VI)UflfllC?1 I/ 7 1 s si n. ?ent7f Rcpurr ( 4/g'll Cie O() ( 0 111  better sanitary conditions will thus be achieved in the areas served by the sewerage and sanitation systems. This will reduce water-borne pollution and water-logging within the cities and in the surrounding water bodies, thereby bringing health benefits to local populations. The construction of the systems will protect shallow groundwater aquifers from contamination. Environmental Assessment Requirements This Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Cagayan de Oro has been prepared in accordance with the Presidential Decree No. I586 otherwise knovwn as the Environmental Impact Assessment Law and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Revised Administrative Order Nos. 36, the Revised Water Usage and Classification/Water Quality Criteria and Revised Effluent Regulations of 1990 respectively; and World Bank's Operational Directive 4.01 on Environmental Assessment. The revised Administrative Order 36 for Environmental Impact Statement System issued in 1996 is comprehensive and is compatible with the World Bank's Operational Directive 4.01. It outlines the procedure to be followed by environmental critical projects (ECPs) and projects to be located in environmental critical areas (ECAs). in preparing environmental impacts statement (EISs)'. ECP and ECA are defined in the AO. It should also be noted that that local ordinances and regulations governing projects of such nature have been taken into consideration in preparing this report. Similar EIA reports are being prepared for the other 4 cities. This report has been prepared by a team of local consultants under the aegis of the LWUA and the Cagayan de Oro City Government. Much of the work relating to the environmental impact analvsis was undertaken as part of the feasibility study done by C. Lotti and Associati Consultation with the community is an on-going process. The sanitation component of the project will be executed in a participatory manner, and detailed guidelines have been spelled out. Selection of Priority Cities The choice of the first batch of Philippine cities for sewerage investments was made after an initial screening at the national level of urban areas facing the most serious problem of pollution by untreated wastes. Of the five cities. Davao and Cagayan de Oro represent the largest class of provincial cities with current population estimates in the range of a million and half a million respectively. There are several major population concentrations in the city - each being a source of sewage contamination for nearby surface and ground water. Hovwever. the largest volume of sewage is generated by the largest consumers of piped water supply: in the Central Business District or Poblacion area. Untreated wastewater from this area has polluted low-lying coastal areas, and basically converted the principal nivers into open sewers. The scale of the pollution problem can be appreciated by the fact that about 90 per cent of the daily water supply of 140,000 cubic meters in Davao city and This is the term used by DENR and refers to the standard Environmental Assessment Report required by the World bank as per OD 4.01 1i Inrj,e1 iitul .1 1.X0WN.IC/7 71f,,, R I1. ( cItgu in (fi,' ()iC ., ( Ci1 2  76.000 cubic meters in Cagayan de Oro is being discharged as untreated or undertreated wastewater. Outside the Poblacion areas, there are pockets of population concentrations polluting nearby streams, creeks and drainage channels. In the other three cities of medium size (Cotabato City, Calamba and Dagupan City), current population estimates are close to 200,000. While the scale of urban pollution problems are not comparable with Davao and Cagayan de Oro, these cities are located close to environmentally sensitive wetlands and water bodies. In Cotabato City, the urban area is actually below the mean sea level, exposing inhabitants to frequent flooding and waterlogging during the monsoon months. Calamba is located on the shores of Laguna Lake, v uich has experienced a rapid deterioration in water quality over the last two decade! Dagupan city is close to a large estuarine zone with ecologically sensitive wetlands and fishponds. In each of these cities, Mayors and city officials have recognized for some time that unless their complex environmental problems are tackled through a strategic plan of handling waste disposaL sustainability of urban growth could be seriously affected. Overall Project Approach The proposed project follows a demand-based approach in the sense that facilities will be constructed only if they conform with the preferences of local stakeholders, and services conform to their respective willingness to pay. The stakeholders represent the different tiers of organizations from the City or Municipal Council and Barangay (part of the formal LGU system), to the more informal purok, neighborhood and household levels. During project preparation, the idea of involving communities in the planning process was field- tested in three barangays of Davao city, and found to be quite successful. The basic decision-making process is as follows: For the capital-intensive trunk system, consisting of the main transportation sewers. prinary drains and wastewater treatment facilities, the project design and implementation plan has to be approved by the City Council, because the latter is responsible to repay the loan [see Annex 3 of the Staff Appraisal Report (SAR) for the Project on Financial Aspects]. For the feeder system, consisting of collector sewers, secondary drains and on-site sanitation facilities, barangays and local neighborhoods will be associated with the planning and implementation program. The design criteria have been simplified, so that the feeder system can respond to local preferences and willingness to pay, rather than be bound by any conventional sewer design criteria used in industrialized countries. Detailed design will be conducted through a participatory process described in Annex 13 of the SAR. Given the capital-intensive nature of the investments, the proposed project is only the initial phase of a progr-am to improve the sanitation infrastructure through a strategic planninig approach that involves a mix of on-site and off-site wastewater collection. ['111'(r( 1 t', / \IVS. AM0i 7Re v l? ( (Rgeal ti7 ()rCn (L Itl J  treatment and disposal. Choice of initial service areas for sewerage has been confined to the Central Business Districts or Poblacion areas because these are the major contributors to municipal wastewater pollution. The only exception made is in the case of Davao City, where a second area of high growth prospects (Toril) has also been included on the request of the LGU. The project will construct a sewer network that will discharge sewage to a vertically integrated pond system designed to treat both sewage and septage. In each of the cities, with the exception of Davao, the treatment site was selected in areas free from encumbrances. For the sanitation compone ts, the entire city has been included in the project area, with final selections being made on the basis of demand. On-site treatment systems through the construction of VIP (ventilated improved pit) latrines, pit latrines, pour flush toilets and septic tanks will also be constructed if there is demand from property owners. For those properties with uncertain land tenure (as in squatter settlements), the project will finance the construction of communal toilets, to be managed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and/or the private sector. The specific locations of these facilities will be driven by the willingness to pay for the services by beneficiaries at the barangay level, provided of course that these are technically feasible. Analysis of Alternatives The recommended solutions for wastewater treatment were arrived at after an intensive process of evaluating alternatives during the project preparation in order to achieve cost effectiveness and acceptability. The alternatives considered were anaerobic/facultative ponds, modified lagoon systems and mechanical treatment. The evaluation of alternatives indicated that the modified lagoon systems, despite having a higher operation & maintenance (O&M) costs compared to anaerobic/facultative ponds (as it requires mechanical aerators and recirculation pumps) was appropriate. The selected option met the following criteria the effectively: Minimize overall pond area required Minimize odor production Meet DENR effluent quality criteria. including fecal coliform reduction Minimize sludge production rate Maximize potential to use surroundinig land for recreational purposes f 111 iruJnmelllnl a .I:SXe. ?/r I?epCr: ('naga and erC ()Jl ('if 4  Summary Information on Project Cities Davao Cagayan de Oro CoLabato Calamba Dagupan Populatim (1990) 849,947 339.598 127.065 173.453 128.000 Housmg 163.329 47.724 21.581 32.109 21.219 SLze of Central 1.000 heulares 400 hetares 120 helares 95 hedtares 50 hectares Busness Disnct (CBD) Morbiditv rate per 595 fSr 733 for dianhea 3050 for diarrhea 818 for parasitisn 528 for gastro- 10.000 from diarrhea(t rd rank (third raak-) (frst rank) (secmd rank) terntis (third rank) diseases amnog di ses) Water bodies at Davao river and aU Cagayan river and About 50% of city Laguna Lake About 50% of city risk because of beacbes close to adjoining beaches area ccxsists of experiencmg area are wdlands. municipal city not fit for au Macajalar Bay wetlands, fish ponds increase in turbidity used for fish wastewater recreaticnal untit for and estuarine area and rapid farming pollutio purposes recreational eutrophicatic purposes because of fecal ocmtaminaticm The urban area/built-up areas in the project cities are characterized by a heavy con- centration of commercial and industrial activities. It is the area where population density is highest. These areas also represent the bulk of economic activity in the informal sector - such as, the production and consumption of raw and processed food, light manufacturing activities and retail distribution. A large proportion of piped water supply from the local Water District is also consumed in the Central Business District (CBD). Consequently, the pressure from both solid and liquid wastes in these areas greatly exceed the capability of the land and water resources to absorb, assimilate and recycle them Cagayan de Oro City Impact During Construction Phase The implementation of the project and its components is projected to produce only minimal adverse environmental impacts. The socio-economic impacts will be beneficiaL and will result in a better standard of living for the municipalities and cities concerned. In the short-term. the project will provide employment and livelihood opportunities to the population of the surrounding communities through the jobs generated during the construction phase. In the long-ternt better sanitary conditions will reduce sicknesses caused bv water-related problems. Thus an improvement of the existing environmental conditions is expected. The project will undertake mitigating measures to minimize, or if at all possible. eliminate adverse impacts. !"M mmetl lsstnLemll. IXNc Nx (J?(pJr): ( 'jWq1-atan cde (h)o (at'.D  Air Quality. The implementation of the project will result in an increase in the ambient concentration of suspended particulates in the vicinity of the project site. This would be attributed to dust from land clearing and excavation activities, which expose soil to wind and vehicular traffic over unpaved road. Water Quality. Excavation activities in the project sites could also loosen soils and transport of these materials to any surface waters, thereby increasing siltation and turbidity. During the rainy season, surface runoff may increase total suspended solids, and cause temporary stress at the discharge point . However, the impact will be localized, and when the vegetative cover returns, impact oi the receiving body of water caused by surface run- off will be eliminated. Noise. The noise impact during the construction stage is expected to be generally minimal and will not require any special noise abatement measure. The treatment plant sites shall have a setback away from residential clusters, which will definitely provide the necessary buffer to reduce noise impact during construction of the modified lagoon systems. During pipe-laying, some noise will be generated due to the construction activities and the temporary operation of heavy equipment. Noise from breaking concrete pavement and sidewalks may also pose a temporary problem. However, the noise level at the streets is expected to be within the ambient noise quality standards. Ecological Effects. As there are no rare, endemic species of flora and fauna in any of the proiect areas, project implementation has minimal impact on'the terrestrial ecology. Vegetative covers are expected to be cleared, unavoidably, during civil works. Impacts During Operation Phase Air Qualitv. The operation of the wastewater treatment facility will have minimal impact on the air quality of the area. Aside frorn the occasional odor nuisance. it is not projected to have adverse effect at all. Water Quality. The implementation of the project will be beneficial to the general environment of participating cities and their environs. Discharging of untreated domestic waste water from the highi volume consumers in each city's Central Business.Districts into nearbv bodies of water would thus be minimized or eliminated. However. operations and maintenance failures may result in occasional discharges. Socio-economic. The provision of sanitation facilities in the project cities would undoubtedlv benefit the general populace of these areas. Thle occurrence of epidemic- scale diseases caused by cuirent unsaniitary conditionis will be reduced. T'his will result in a more healtlhy and productive populatioln. 1-17\'ifl 7L',7I1/ . IsnL'Xw;9no Repe: ( /IgtII a1 dc ( hr ( ill  Sludge Disposal. The recommended modified lagoon system or vertically integrated pond system of treatment will require sludge disposal at very infrequent intervals. The sludge in the anaerobic pond/s remains for an extended period continuously undergoing organic decomposition. This may take place over a 20-30 year period. One system in operation in the U.S. has not been desludged in thirty years. Recent testing ofthis system has indicated that the sludge is well-digested and very stable. If desludging does become due, arrangements can easily be made with the city environment office for disposal at the sanitary landfill. Mitigating measures to minimize, or if possible, eliminate adverse impacts will be implemented. Measures to enhance the existing environm ital conditions in the project site shall be implemented to maintain the environmental sr X ainability of the area. The implementation of the project will inevitably cause impacts, both adverse and beneficial. Table I shows the potential impacts, risks and the proposed mitigating actions. - Anvz,y,,,,,,7'niaI ].c.%V.VIez7c1I kI)OPI ( 'fIgCrlV I c ()ru7 ( '1 1  Table 1: Mitigation Actions Construction Phase Potential Impact & Risks Mitigation Action * Poor quality of construction * Design and supervision contract will be separated from supply and installation contract as a means of assuring quality of construction. Works engineers, with a relatively independent source of information on construction progress, will be hired. Air Pollution * Careful construction planning and work phasing, specifications and construction methods to reduce the ngth of time that the * Construction equipment and soil is exposed to the environment. vehicles may cause higher * Provision of adequately and properly mamtained storage for suspended particulates, odors and construction materials and equipment. fumes emissions - CO2, CO. NOx . Expeditious and prompt removal of excavated materials or dredged spoils from construction sites. * Exposure of fine-grain particles to * Regular and adequate sprinkling of water on dust-generating wind and vehicular traffic will mounds/piles resulting from earthmoving activities and civil likely result in a decrease in air works. quality. * Good housekeeping for all construction affected areas and workplaces. * Control of motor vehicle and equipment emissions. * Use of protective gear by all workers. Water Pollution and Soil Erosion * Provide temporary drainage and storage facilities for excavation soils, for fuel and oils needed for equipment. * Siltation . Careful and rational planming of construction and post- construction phases of the project. * Maintenance of adequate drainage system. * Noise from operation of construc- * Erect temporary sound barriers around the work sites. avoid tion equipment would be about 70- simultaneous use of heavy equipment. limit daytime work, 80 dBA at 10 m: 50-70 dBA at 30 vehicle speed at 20 kph: regular maintenance of equipment m. * Use of appropriate mufflers and sound proofing of construction machinery, equipment. and engines. Use of appropriate shock- absorbing mountings for machinery. . Establishment of buffer zones and noise zones. - Temporary Disruption of Traffic . To the extent possible, feeder and collection sewer lines will be Flow located along secondary streets. * Scheduling and increasing input resources so that period of traffic disruption in primary roads are reduced. * Coordinate with the local traffic management office and the PNP Traffic Management Command : Clear directional signs and barriers in case traffic rerouting is needed. * Public information campaign. :l l;-tf oini,es1tal.].-vse,v.nZ)eii Rejport: ( 'ag,qanm dL ()ro ( 1Y.e  Operation Phase Potential Inpact & Risks Mitigation Action * Environmental hazards due to * Carefully designed post-construction maintenance, contingency accidents and man-made or natural and monitoring programs. disasters. * Well designed plan for detection of accident or natural events * Breakdown or malfimction of the including precautionary and remedial measures to be sewer lift station will increase taken/observed. level of pollution at the Cagayan . Adequate plans for environmental rehabilitation, clean-up, River near the center of the city as restoration, and disposition of temporary structures and facilities raw sewage will have to be installed during the construction phase. dumped directly. l Water Pollution * Upgrade laboratory facilities of the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COCWD) to be able to undertake wastewater analysis. * The effluent discharge may well * Following the bubble concept, wastewater discharged into the affect the condition of receiving Cagayan River shall, in the long-term, conform to the water bodies of water and the effluent quality standards established by the Department of Environment discharge point of the treatment and Natural Resources as set forth in DAO No. 34 and 35, plant may also be affected by tidal Revised Water Usage and Classification/Water Quality conditions (estuary). Standards and Revised Effluent Regulations of 1990. respectively. . A dispersion/dilution modeling study will be conducted to prior to locating the outfall. Treated effluent discharge into the Cagayan River shall be timed based on tidal conditions. The adoption of the AIPS process for the treatment plants should result into attainment of effluent standards. l Noise would be at about 65-85 . Establishment of buffer zones and noise zonesl dBA. principally coming from septage trucks unloading at the treatment plant. * Odors I organic and sulfur com- * Maintenance of greenbelt zones and vegetation. pounds mainly from the trucks * Provision of landscaped open spaces which will improve the unloading septage) aesthetics in the area by planting the green strips with appropriate plant or tree species. Management and O&M of the System Institutional: * Management Contract with COCWD which has proven utility . Poor maintenance of pumps management and operations capacity. * User consultation at detailed engineering design stage to ensure . Low number of connections connection. * Sewerage surcharge should be sufficient to provide incentives for COCWD to maintain system. * Require M&E reporting to the DENR and LWUA. l Explore feasibility of BOO/BOT contracts for recreational activities in unused lands at treatment sites. * Provide adequate training of COCWD and city staff. Regulators l Require compulsory connection for all commercial. industrial and high domestic water users. * Utilize Public Performance Auditing system being set up by DENR to monitor adverse impacts. Technical. l Provision of adequate maintenance equipment and spares with COCWD. /I9ironmenrtal/ .-IX.sxnienit R?;yz:rr (Caguc,van1 c. ()I ('tt Cm  Monitoring and Implementation Arrangements Construction Phase Ambient air quality measurements will be undertaken near construction sites. This will be mostly near locations where sewer network is being laid and treatment plant sites. When selecting sites due consideration will be given to sensitive receptors like schools, hospitals, houses etc. Total suspended particulates (TSP) will be measured once a fortnight, for 8 or 24 hours, over the construction period. Noise will measured at the same locations as TSP. Lc41 and Lgo values will be measmi d and recorded. Operation Phase Receiving water quality will be monitored by the DENR through its regional offices which is monitoring the status of Cagayan River on a periodic basis. The PMO will collect information on present conditions, observed changes in pollution loads etc. It should be noted that all the pollution load will not be removed but the proposed sewerage infrastructure will greatly reduce the problem. Once the plan becomes operationaL the treatment plant operator, vis-a-vis. the Cagayan de Oro City Water District (COCWD) would be required to set up a laboratory and measure the effluent quality. The Treatment Plant Operator will institute a monitoring program to measure effluent discharges. Daily representative values of PH, 5-day BOD, COD, Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus will be measured during the start-up penod. Once the plant operations stabilize, weekly measurements (24-hourly basis) will be taken. Quarterly reports showing the trends of effluent discharge and receiving water quality will be reported to the PMO and DENR Regional Office. Implementation of the Monitoring Plan The PMO. with the assistance of LWJUA-CPSO and consultants to be engaged in the project. would monitor compliance with the ECC and carry out the requisite data collection. Monitoring reports would be submitted to DENRJEMB and the World Bank periodically. While respective responsibilities for the various mitigation activities have been identified, the PMO will ensure that the requirements are complied with; in addition, feedback firom communities. city officials. NGOs, etc. will be pro-actively sought through the city public affairs programs. regular monthlv meetinpgs of barangay captains and other methods. Finally, DENR. througlh its planned PPA svstem, would also periodically monitor and audit compliance with the ECC, assisted by independent contractors. Table 2 summarizes the responsibilities and timetable for the Monitoring Plan. Ant'imrfnmenta . xs.~exsmt Report: (Cqgoqvn le O)ro fty /0  Table 2 Summary of Responsibilities and Timetable for the Monitoring Plan Activity ResponsibUity Start Completion Secure ECC clearance from DENR. CPSO-LWUA Decemiber 1996 Sptemnber 1997 CoUect reference ambient air parameters City PMU. with DENR September 1997 June 1998 around the proposed treatment plant sites at regional office projecs cities Ensure that the bid documents include PMO January 1998 August 1999 provisicns for mitigation under the responsibi- lity of the contractor: review cmtraacor's work plans to ensure compliance with en- vircnmental rmtigation plan provisaMs T,ram opaators an O&M practce & handling PMO and CPSO-LWUA Januarv 1999 June 2000 emagency situations. Assess and upgrade the laboratorv facilities of Project Citv PMU and local Marci 1998 June 2000 the Cagayan de Oro City Water Distict. Water Distnct Conduct user c tsuatimns and mformatice Project City PMU. witb Januarv 1998 June 2000 campaigu. assistance of NGO. M aitor and report i copliance. PMO Bi-annual basis Bi-annual basis LFWU,4,jcr rdessCtn.doY fn t z n1mnietal .1 x e.xn7Lent I?cpoort: (aOgalS2 ta dL' ()roJ ('t II  I  1. INTRODUCTION In the Philippines, the typical urban area/built-up area is characterized by a heavy concentration of activities, both commercial and industriaL It is also the area where the density of population is at its peak. These areas are also the sites where the production and consumption of raw and processed materials could be found. Consequently the, pressure on the life support systems in these areas are far higher than the suburban and nural areas. Adverse environmental conditions such as the generation and sinilarly the discharge of wastes into the environment is common in urban and built-up areas. Unfortunately, the amount, type and concentration of waste generated exceed the capability of the local environment to absorb and assimilate them. The carying capacity of the life support systems are stretched to the limits. The urgency of establshing collection and treatment methods which wil prevent adverse impacts to the health and well-being of the residents, and to the ecological systems which sustain them cannot be ignored and overstated. The provision of a cost-effective centralized wastewater colection, treatment, and disposal is the primary objective of the proposed Water Districts Development Project (WDDP). The proposed project wiDl assist the local governments of Dagupan, Calamba (Laguna), Cagayan de Oro City. Davao City and Cotabato City, in finding solutions to the problem of sanitation. Most urban centers in the Philippines rely on individual septic tank systems for the treatment and disposal of wastewater from domestic and commercial buildings. However, the designs for such systems is often inadequate. Facilities for land disposal of effluents from the septic tanks are generally absent. Hence the partially treated septic tank effluents flow directly into storm drainage systems and other receiving bodies of water, thereby exacerbating an already grave pollution situation. There are several possible options for addressing this problem, including improving the design of the septic tank system with the installation of soil absorption systems. But an environmentallv sound alternative that is cost-effective and captures economies of scale is to connect individual properties directly to a sewerage system for the collection, treatment and disposal of the urban wastes. better sanitary conditions wiDl thus be experienced in the areas served by the sewerage, drainage and sanitation systems. This will reduce water-borne pollution and water-logging within the cities and in the surrounding water bodies, thereby bringing health benefits to local populations. In Davao, Cagayan de Oro and Calamba cities, pollution from human wastes have affected recreational areas, such as beaches and lake front areas. Project investmenits in wastewater collection and treatment will also have positive benefits in terns of improving prospects of saving the remaining beaches for the city residents. The bI1avironnieital I vxexxrnemit Report: ( agc van dle Or<o (Oln- 12  construction of the systems will protect shallow groundwater aquifers from contamination [particularly in Toril area. in the case of Davao City, where the aquifer underneath is a major source of the city's water supply system]. Overall Approach of the Proposed Project The proposed project follows a demand-based approach, in the sense that facilities will be constructed only if they conform with the preferences of local stakeholders, and services conform to their respective willingness to pay. The stakeholders represent the different tiers of organizations from the City Council and Barangay (part of the fPrmal LGU system), to the more informal purok, neighborhood and household levi s. During project preparation, the idea of involving communities in the planning process was field-tested in three barangays of Davao city, and found to be quite successful. The basic decision- making process is as follows: (a) For the capital-intensive trunk system., consisting of the main transportation sewers, primary drains and wastewater treatment facilities, the project design and implementation plan has to be approved by the City Council, because the latter is responsible to repay the loan [see Annex 3 of the Staff Appraisal Report (SAR) for the project on Financial Aspects]. (b) For the feeder system, consisting of collector sewers, secondary drains and on-site sanitation facilities, barangays and local neighborhoods will be associated with the planning and implementation programn The design criteria have been simplified. so that the feeder system can respond to local preferences and willingness to pay. rather than be bound by any conventional sewer design critefia used in industrialized countries. Detailed design will be conducted through a participatory process. Given the capital-intensive nature of the investments, the proposed project is only the initial phase of a program to improve the sanitation infrastructure through a strategic planning approach that involves a mix of on-site and off-site wastewater collection, treatment and disposal. Choice of initial service areas for sewerage has been confined to the Central Business Districts or Poblacion areas because these are the major contributors to municipal wastewater pollution. The only exception made is in the case of Davao City, where a second area of highi growth prospects (Toril) has also been included on the request of the LGU. The project will construct a sewer network that will discharge sewage to a vertically integrated pond system designed to treat both sewage and septage. In each of the cities (with the exception of Davao), the treatment sites selected are in areas free from encumbrances. For the sanitation components, the entire city has been included in the project area, with final selections being made on the basis of demand. On-site treatment systems through the f Itv irumesnmtal .-I.A:weA.ne,1 IRepor C (agaan e Ol ()ro ( 13  construction of VIP latrines, pit latrines, pour flush toilets and septic tanks will also be constructed if there is demand from property owners. For those properties with uncertain land tenure (as in squatter settlements), the project will finance the construction of communal toilets, to be managed by NGOs and/or the private sector. The specific location of these facilities will be driven by the willingness to pay for the services by beneficiaries at the barangay level, provided of course that these are technically feasible. The recommended solutions for wastewater treatment were arrived at after an intensive process of evaluating alternatives during the project preparation in order to achieve cost effectiveness and acceptability. The altematives considered were anaerobic/facultative ponds, modified lagoon systems and mechanical treatment. In all the five cities, the evaluation of alternatives indicated that the modified lagoon systet s, despite having a higher O&M costs compared to anaerobic/facultative ponds (as it requires mechanical aerators and recirculation pumps) was more appropriate. Details are available in project files. The selected option met the following criteria the effectively: (a) Minimize overall pond area required (b) Minimize odor production (c) Meet DENR effluent quality criteria, including fecal coliform reduction (d) Minimize sludge production rate (e) Maximize potential to use surrounding land for recreational purposes Environmental Impact Assessment This Environmental Impact Assessment Report for Cagayan de Oro has been prepared in accordance with the Presidentital Decree No. 1586 otherwise known as the Environmental Impact Assessmentt Law and Department of Environmenit and Natural Resources Revised Adnministrative Order Nos. 36, the Revised Water Usage antd Classification/Water Quality Criteria and Revised Effluenit Regulationis of 1990 respectively; and World Bank's Operational Directive 4. 01 on Environtmental Assessment. The revised Administrative Order 36 for Environmental Impact Statement System issued in 1996 is comprehensive and is compatible with the World Bank's Operational Directive 4.01. It outlines the procedures to be followed by environmental critical projects (ECPs) and projects to be located in environmental critical areas (ECAs), in preparing enviromnental impacts statement (EISs)'. ECPs and ECAs are defined in the AO. It should also be noted that that local ordinances and regulations governing projects of such nature have been taken into consideration in preparing this report. Similar EIA reports are being prepared for the other 4 cities. This is the term used by DENR and refers to the standard Environmiental Assessment Report required by the World bank as per OD 4.01 I:t'l(fI1'1/mvinimn llX. Issessmeni ReporJt: Cqtgvull\t1 lie Or1/ (CIl /X  This report has been prepared by a team of local consultants under the aegis of the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) and the Cagayan de Oro City Government. Much of the work relating to the environmental impact analysis was undertaken as part of the feasibility study done by C. Lotti and Associati Consultation with the community is an on-going process. The sanitation component of the project will be executed in a participatory manner, and detailed guidelines have been spelled out. cdIcheR wCrc.doe (; 'Q i n\ nore,n?.N,laI .vxL'......... 7e)7t I?dJ,arr (ai,L7'atan c/c (1P (Jfitt'...............1  2. BASELINE ENVIRONNMNT - CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY Introduction This chapter is in two sections. Section I profiles the existing environmental situation in Cagayan de Oro City and Section II analyses water pollution impacts (historical) of uncontrolled sewage discharge. Section I - Existing Environment 2.1 Land Resources and Use Cagayan de Oro City is located along Macajalar Bay on the central coast of Northern Mindanao and serves as the capital of the province of Misamis Oriental as well as the regional center of Region X - Northern Mindanao. The city is about 780 kilometers southeast of Manila and 190 kilometers northwest of Davao City. [Figure 2.1] Cagayan de Oro City is the major urban center of Northern Mindanao with a total land area of 48,886 ha. It is among the developed urban settlements in the country with an annual growth rate of 5.5%, twice the national average of 2.7%. The urban area which is approximately 2,335 ha, lies along a narrow coastal band expanding southward into the citys western flank. The poblacion, or the city center, occupies approximately 400 ha. It lies adjacent to the eastern bank of the Cagayan River. High density residential and commercial development characterize this area. Urban development has mainlv followed a linear pattern adjacent to the National Highway which is basicallv the main transport artery to the rest of Mindanao. The natural limiting factor in the development and growth of the City is the topography of the area. Development has been confined to the coastal strip, however. recent developments have been made southward of the city and in the westem side of the Cagayan River. The most extensive urban land-use outside of the poblacion is medium-density residential areas. The center of industrial development, on the other hand, is located at Puntod, Bayabas and Tabon. As of 1992, agricultural lands occupy 72.58% or 35,481.46 ha of the total land area. (CPDO) Coconut and corn are the predominant crops cultivated. These mixed cultivated areas are usuallv associated witlh grasses. This is a manifestation of the present trend to I knx uro,menta/.-lx / Repf irn (Caga van i doro (,IfY 16  utilize grasslands for agriculture. Table 2.1 shows the Land-Use by Zoning Districts of Cagayan de Oro City. [Figure 2.2] Table 2.1 Land-Use by Zoning District Cagayan De Oro City Zoning District Area in Percent Agricultural 81.90 Residential 12.39 Parks, Plazas and Open Spaces 2.00 Industrial 1.68 Commercial 1.26 Institutional 0.77 Total 100.00 Source: City Planning and Development Office, Cagayan de Oro City 2.2 Physiography and Geology In. general the city is dominated by rolling and steep terrain. The lowlands represent an area of about 3,536 ha. Most of these lowland landscapes are broad alluvial plains. As the most extensive land management unit (LMU), they occupy about 82 % of the lowland areas. The soils in these LMUs are generally deep with varying drainage conditions. The upland areas of about 15.405 ha are represented by widely variable landscapes. The most important agricultural lands in this landscape are river terraces, alluvial valleys, residual terraces, and volcanic hill footslopes which have an aggregated area of 5,891 ha or about 38.2% of the upland areas. These areas in general have well drained, acidic, and deep. clayey soils. The remaining upland areas are mostly low hills that have sloping lands and relativelv shallow degraded soils. The hilly lands of about 16,818 ha are lands where most soil erosion and degraded grasslands are located. The highlands of about 1,416 ha are relatively small but have high potential for the caltivation of high value crops. However. these areas are fragile and their utilization require a well conceived soil management and conservation program. About 13. 166 ha are lands below the 18% limit prescribed for the alienable and disposable lands. In general, the area is dominated by steep and rolling lands with slopes greater than 18% slopes. TIhese areas are mostly the areas devoted to the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) projects comprising about 16.018 ha or 39% of the city. Areas with slope greater than 30% represent an area of about 2.762 ha (Louis Berger International. Inc.. 1992). nThe two sites being proposed by the City Government for the wastewater treatment plant a-e situated along the banlks of the Cagayan de Oro River. The Bgy. Nazareth site and the l/fl'.17 Off11 )}81'fl .-l .%.~xf. :h?1 l?'Report: ( taie a e ()u ( CY 1 7  Bgy. Consolacion site are within the easement of the river. Both sites are relatively level. There are no settlers/squatters in both of the proposed sites. The two sites are within built-up areas and are adjacent to developed residential communities. It is estimated that the size of each site is less than 3 ha. 2.3 Climate As per the Modified Corona's Classification of Philippine climates, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental belongs to Type HI. It has no pronounced maximum rain period and a very short dry season which lasts from one to three months only. As is common in the country the Northeast Monsoon prevails during the months of November to March exhibiting maximum intensity during January and February. It is a relatively cold and less humid air mass as it originates from the intensely cold anticyclone over continental Asia during winter. From June to September the Southwest Monsoon dominates the area. This air mass is warm and extremely humid and originates from the Indian Ocean crossing the equator and enters the country from the southwest. The North Pacific Trades are generally dominant during April and May. The mean annual temperature recorded in Cagayan de Oro is 27.60C. The warmest month is May with a mean temperature of 28.7