II.
Human Health & Environment
1.
Human Health and Environmental Needs.
The objective of the proposed project is to improve
human health and environmental conditions in Tecate through the implementation
of projects aimed at improving potable water, sewage, and sanitation
systems. These projects will provide
service to several areas of the city that currently lack this service, and will
improve some components of the existing system, such as the WWTP and the water
disinfection systems.
At present, several problems related to human health
and the environment are being experienced, which will be addressed through
project implementation. Approximately
92% of the population has access to piped water, while the remaining 8% meets
its supply needs by means of water trucks.
Water is oftentimes stored by users in inappropriate containers, thus
increasing the risk for gastro-intestinal diseases.
Furthermore, only 84% of the population has access to
the wastewater collection system, resulting in an increased risk for human
contact with untreated wastewater, and for contamination of surface and ground
water. Additionally, the WWTP does not
comply with the maximum allowable discharge limits, affecting the water quality
of the Tecate River, and potentially of the alluvial aquifer.
Project implementation will expand coverage of potable
water and sewage services to practically 100% of the population and will
rehabilitate the WWTP. The proposed projects will address the current situation
in the following manner: (1) human health conditions of residents who obtain
their water supply by means of water trucks, and use inappropriate storage
methods, will be improved; (2) human health conditions will be improved by
reducing or eliminating wastewater surface flows caused by the lack of
wastewater collection lines; (3) water quality of the Tecate River will improve
by rehabilitating the WWTP and through construction of new wastewater
collection lines; (4) there will be a reduction in the potential for soil and
aquifer contamination resulting from the use of latrines and septic tanks in
areas lacking this service, as well as by the use of lines in poor condition
and discharges from the WWTP into the Tecate River riverbed.
2. Environmental
Evaluation.
Mexican
environmental regulations require preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS). Two EIS were
developed, one for potable water projects and one for wastewater projects. Both documents were submitted to the
Dirección General de Ecología, and were approved on November 26, 1999.
The
resolution issued by the Dirección de Ecología identified mitigation measures
that must be undertaken during the construction phases of the proposed
projects. The mitigation measures are mainly related to dust control, the use
of explosives, and the removal of construction by-products.
Funding by the Border Environmental
Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) requires compliance with regulations established by
the U.S. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). To this end, BECC prepared an Environmental Assessment
(EA) that complements the EIS, and provides detailed information regarding
potential transbounday impacts. It must
be noted, that only positive impacts in the United States were identified. These benefits relate to improvements to the
water quality of the Tecate River.
The first draft of the EA was
submitted by the BECC to EPA on December 17, 1999; this information has been
reviewed and complemented during the month of January. Additionally, a
biological survey was conducted during April to identify any potential impacts
to listed sensitive species. The
results of this study were submitted to EPA.
Based on the information submitted
to EPA, it is expected that EPA will issue a Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI) in mid-May. This document shall be made available for a 30-day public
comment period. It is expected that EPA
will adopt the FONSI in early June, 2000.
3.
Compliance with Applicable Environmental
and Cultural Resource Laws
As stated earlier, the Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) was submitted to the Dirección General de Ecología for
review and approval. Also, continuous
efforts have been carried out with EPA to ensure issuance of the FONSI.
1. Appropriate
Technology.
The technology being proposed for this infrastructure
projects is appropriate for Tecates physical and socio-economic conditions. The use of PVC piping for construction of
the potable water distributions and wastewater collection systems is a standard
engineering practice. PVC pipe types
for each application have been clearly established. Thus the use of PVC type C-900 is proposed for the water
distribution lines, and the sanitary type for the sewerage lines.
The technology proposed for rehabilitation of the
wastewater treatment plant will be the same as the one currently being used at
the plant. Startup, operation, and
maintenance will be less complex than those expected by the use other
technologies. Additionally, the
proposed improvements will address problems experienced in the current plant
operations, related to sludge management, as described previously. The trickling filters are used in several
other cities throughout Mexico and the world. The effectiveness of this
technology and their relatively simple operation, are well established.
To ensure that the proposed technology is the most
appropriate for Tecates physical and socio-economic conditions, several
alternatives were reviewed. Evaluation
of the water and sewage distribution lines considered alternative locations,
materials, and sizes. Pipe-laying will
follow standard engineering practices, facilitating the selection process of
alternatives.
For
the case of the WWTP, several alternatives were considered for each of the unit
processes. Evaluation of the
alternatives was simplified by the fact that a plant with sufficient capacity
already exists. Therefore, consideration was not given to expanding it or
constructing a new plant at a different location.
The
no-action alternative was also considered. However this alternative was deemed
inappropriate since it would maintain or aggravate the problems described above.
2. Operation and
Maintenance Plan
Operation and maintenance of the proposed
infrastructure does not represent an additional burden for the utility. The proposed technology is the same as the
one currently used, and CESPTe personnel have the required experience.
Rehabilitation of the WWTP will facilitate
operations because it includes a mechanized means for cleaning the screen and
higher quality sludge will be produced that will be easier to handle.
3. Compliance with
Applicable Design Regulations and Standards
All 54 project components have preliminary design (anteproyectos),
which have been submitted to C.N.A. for review and approval. Also, to date, final design has been
developed for the 1999 and 2000 projects.
Final design for 2001 projects is currently being developed by CESPTe.
IV. Financial Feasibility and Project Management
1.
Financial
Feasibility.
NADB carried out an analysis to determine the
projects financial feasibility. The
analysis determined the amount of grants and loans that CESPTe could receive
from the Bank and what impact the proposed project would have on rates under
various grant and loan combinations. The results of the analysis were presented
to the community during the second public participation meeting on January 28,
2000. The following table describes the
construction costs of the proposed projects.
As stated earlier, the 1999 projects have already been
constructed with state and federal funding.
Though certification for these works is not being considered, invested
amounts will be considered as part of the Mexican match towards the total cost
of the project. The following table
provides a summary of the financial structure recommended by NADB.
|
Available
Funding |
Amount (MX$) |
% of Total |
|
Capital |
|
|
|
CESPTe Contribution
|
472,739 |
0.64 |
|
Sub-total Capital |
472,739 |
0.64 |
|
Loan |
|
|
|
NADB Loan |
5,949,222 |
8.01 |
|
Sub-total Loan |
5,949,222 |
8.01 |
|
Grants |
|
|
|
C.N.A. |
16,951,722 |
22.48 |
|
State Government |
16,951,722 |
22.48 |
|
BEIF |
33,903,444 |
45.67 |
|
Sub-total Grants |
67,806,888 |
91.35 |
|
TOTAL |
74,228,850 |
100.00 |
2. Rate Model.
As part of its financial analysis, NADB developed a
rate model that was used to determine what impacts the proposed project would
have on the rates under various loan/grant scenarios (both for construction as
well as for transition).
The rate study recommends annual adjustments to the
rates based on inflation plus 1 per cent.
In other words, real increases
of 1% per year is recommended.
2. Project Management.
The project will be managed by CESPTe, who
has managed the operation of the treatment plant, and the wastewater collection
and water distribution systems for several years.
1.
Comprehensive Community Participation
Plan
The Community
Participation Plan, submitted by the project applicant on April 28, 1999, was developed
in conjunction with the Steering Committee.
The main purpose of the plan was to inform the Tecate community on the
benefits and costs and impacts of the water and sanitation project, as well as
to obtain approval of the majority of the community through extensive outreach
conducted in various sectors and subdivisions of the city.
An extensive and
long-term media campaign was undertaken.
Among the more salient outreach actions undertaken were: development of
a slogan; development of three brochures; creation of an introductory
video-clip; preparation of a Power Point presentation; media plan involving
production and broadcasting of 558 radio spots; 12 articles in three
newspapers; 140 broadcasting hours; placement of plastic signs with message; production
and distribution of 5,000 flyers; production and distribution of 2,000
stickers.
2.
Local Steering Committee
The Citizens Committee for the water and sanitation
project was created on February 16, 1999.
Originally it had twelve members and a Board made up as follows:
Chairman Luis Ernesto Rivera Macías
Secretary Arturo José Martínez Leal
Technical Secretary Ing.
Patricia Ramírez Pineda
The
Committee was expanded later, after CESPTe issued a public notice in three main
newspapers, radio stations, and through invitations sent to the NGOs,
professional associations, chambers, and organizations.
On
March 10, 1999, Josefina Guerrero, BECC Mexican Advisory Council Member,
provided training regarding public processes, and opinion surveys.
The Citizens Committee undertook the main
responsibility of supporting the definition of the community participation plan
and also provided follow up, informing the community on the water and
sanitation project, and defining information and outreach strategies.
3.
Local Organizations
Various NGOs, professional associations, and chambers
were contacted, who announced the formation of the citizens committee and
distributed project information.
4.
Public Information
As stated
earlier, project information was distributed to the community with three
brochures, a video clip, a Power Point presentation, 8 radio spots, 2 articles
in three newspapers, 140 broadcasting hours, message signs, 5,000 flyers, and
2,000 stickers. Additionally, several
public meetings were held, as described below.
5. Public
Meetings
An
extensive program of public meeting was carried out, consisting mainly of:
- Over 70
public meetings by colonia, which 3,000 persons attended
- A general
public meeting, with a 30-day notice, on June 1, 1999, and with 340
persons in attendance
- A 2nd
public meeting was held on January 28, 2000, and 316 people attended.
During the public
meetings held in each sector, and during the first general public meeting, the
general technical aspects of the project were presented, including its scope,
location, expected benefits, estimated costs, etc. Also, during the second public meeting the final version of the
cost estimates, and the proposed financial structure for the project were
presented.
1.
Definition and Principles
Sustainable development is
defined as social and economic development based on the conservation and
protection of the environment, and on the rational use of natural resources,
but at the same time considering both present and future needs and impacts.
This is the definition given by the Border XXI program developed by Mexico and
the United States.
Principle No. 1 states that the human being needs to be at
the center of all sustainable development considerations, and has a right for a
healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. This principle will be met by the project through the reduction
of diseases that are directly related to water use and consumption and
wastewater collection and treatment.
Principle No. 2 indicates that humans have the right to
develop while satisfying present and future needs for development and
environmental quality. The project will
meet this principle by ensuring improved sanitation conditions for the present
and future population, guaranteeing environmental protection.
Principle No. 3 states that environmental protection
must be an integral part of the development process. This principle will be met by improving the quality of the
discharge to the Tecate River and by reducing the potential for groundwater
contamination.
Principle No. 4 indicates that the project stakeholders
must participate in any activity related with the sanitation project. This principle will be met through the
implementation of the public participation process.
b.
Institutional and Human Capacity Building
The proposed project will strengthen the institutional
capacity of CESPTe in the following way:
·
The capacity to provide service will be increased by the expansion of the
system
·
The volume of unaccounted-for water will be reduced by replacing lines in
meters in poor condition
c. Conformance
with Applicable Local and Regional Conservation and Development Plan
The project complies with the guidelines
provided by the following federal, state, and municipal plans:
Programa
de Agua Potable, Alcantarillado y Saneamiento This program was established by the Federal Government in
1990. The plans objective is to meet
the demand of areas lacking service, as well as the demand exerted by growth.
Furthermore, the plan intents to develop federal, state, and municipal capacity
to promote environmental protection, thus reducing contamination arising from
wastewater. An additional objective is the consolidation of the utilities to
achieve their autonomy and to increase efficiency.
Programa
de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado en Zonas Urbanas (APAZU)
This program is one of the financial sources for the construction of
projects proposed in the Plan Maestro para la Consolidación y Desarrollo
Institucional del Organismo Operador.
Subcomité
de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado
COPLADE This committee
coordinates the scheduling and budgeting for municipal activities based on
water and sanitation needs.
Programa
Integral Ambiental de la Frontera Norte (PIAF) this program is based on the guidelines
established by the Plan Nacional de
Desarrollo, especially as it relates to sanitation on the border area.
Programa
de Desarrollo Urbano de Centro de Población de la Ciudad de Tecate, BC del
Municipio de Tecate This plan is part of the Plan
Estatal de Desarrollo,
and has as an objective promoting an orderly urban development, and enhancing
and preserving the environment to create favorable conditions in terms of
housing and public services for the population.
d.
Natural Resource Conservation
The improvement of the
water and wastewater infrastructure will reduce water consumption and
groundwater extraction through the installation of meters and the reduction in
water losses in the distribution system.
Improvements to the
wastewater collection system will reduce the potential for groundwater
contamination through aquifer recharge.
Additionally, the quality of the Tecate River will be improved by
eliminating fugitive flows arising from areas that lack service.
The adequate operation of the WWTP will
benefit the community and the ecosystem, particularly by improving the quality
of the discharge, thus improving human health and environmental conditions in
the riparian habitat.
e.
Community Development
The coverage of the water
system in Tecate is currently 92% of the population. The remaining 8% of the population obtains water from water
trucks. Similarly, the coverage of the
wastewater collection system is 84% of the population. Residents without access to the sewer system
dispose of their wastewater by means of latrines and open ditches.
The proposed project will
allow for the provision of water and sewer service to 100% of the
population. This benefit will translate
into an improved quality of living.
List of Available Documents
Step
II Document
Master
Plan
Environmental
Impact Analysis
Environmental
Assessment
Biological
Survey Report
Conceptual
Design
Industrial
Pretreatment Program
Backup
Financial Information
Public
Participation Report