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Erbil Deep Boreholes

Environmental Impact Assessment Report

Submitted to World Vision KRI By SETS

May 2015

Erbil Deep Boreholes Environmental Impact Assessment

May 2015 2

Table of Contents List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ 3

List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................. 4

1. Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................... 5

2. Project Description ............................................................................................................................ 6

3. Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 7

4. Description of Project Surroundings ................................................................................................. 8

4.1. Physical ...................................................................................................................................... 8

4.2. Biophysical .............................................................................................................................. 21

5. Environmental Issues ...................................................................................................................... 22

5.1. Map of Physical Works and Undertakings .............................................................................. 22

5.2. Concerns for Infrastructure .................................................................................................... 25

6. Analysis of Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................. 28

6.1. Summary of Impacts ............................................................................................................... 28

7. Environmental Considerations during Implementation ................................................................. 31

7.1. Monitoring Environment Effects and Mitigation .................................................................... 34

8. Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan ........................................................................ 35

9. Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................... 43

10. References .................................................................................................................................. 44

Appendix A: Erbil Water Directorate Approval ....................................................................................... 45

Appendix B: General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities Approval ........................................................ 46


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List of Figures Figure 1: Erbil Rainfall Data[4] ...................................................................................................................... 9

Figure 2: Erbil Elevations [4] ....................................................................................................................... 10

Figure 3: Erbil Slopes [4] ............................................................................................................................. 11

Figure 4: Erbil Soil Types [6] ........................................................................................................................ 12

Figure 5: Erbil Physiographic Map (land-use + geology)[4] ........................................................................ 13

Figure 6: Erbil Runoff [4] ............................................................................................................................. 15

Figure 7: Erbil Streamlines .......................................................................................................................... 16

Figure 8: Hydraulic Conductivity Tests Locations ....................................................................................... 17

Figure 9: Boreholes' Locations .................................................................................................................... 22

Figure 10: Shawees Boreholes .................................................................................................................... 23

Figure 11: Binslawa Boreholes .................................................................................................................... 23

Figure 12: Darato Boreholes ....................................................................................................................... 24

Figure 13: Baharka Boreholes ..................................................................................................................... 24

Figure 14: Typical Well Cross Section – Drilling .......................................................................................... 25

Figure 15: Pumping Room - Facade Details ................................................................................................ 25

Figure 16: Typical Well Cross Section ......................................................................................................... 26

Figure 17: Water Well connection inside the well ...................................................................................... 26

Figure 18: Typical Well Cross Section - Submersible Pump Installation ..................................................... 27


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List of Tables Table 1: Locations of Proposed Boreholes .................................................................................................... 6

Table 2: Erbil Climate Data ............................................................................................................................ 8

Table 3: Erbil Rainfall Data ............................................................................................................................ 8

Table 4: Borehole Location Elevations ........................................................................................................ 10

Table 5: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 1 Results [11] .................................................................................... 18

Table 6: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 2 Results [12] .................................................................................... 18

Table 7: Chemical Test Results .................................................................................................................... 19

Table 8: Biological Test Results ................................................................................................................... 20

Table 9: Boreholes GPS Coordinates ........................................................................................................... 22

Table 10: Summary of Impacts ................................................................................................................... 28

Table 11: Impacts and their mitigation actions .......................................................................................... 31

Table 12: Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan .................................................................... 35


May 2015 5

1. Executive Summary 11

There has been an increase in water demand in Erbil due to the below normal water availability in the last few years in addition to the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. This increase in demand has put the existing water systems under immense pressure resulting in restricted access to safe water. In response to this, the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development, Canada (DFATD) has agreed to fund a proposed solution through World Vision. The proposed solution is to undertake a project consisting of drilling six deep boreholes spread inside Erbil to provide the necessary water supply. As part of the project, an Environmental Impact Assessment needs to be performed the objective of which is to ensure that any interventions and ongoing operations of the project would not cause any long term negative consequences to the environment.

The methodology used to complete the environmental impact assessment includes field visits and data collection through different sources (e.g. local authorities, desk research, tests conducted, field work, etc.) followed by analysis of the collected information. Based on the data analysis, mitigation measures and recommendations are presented.

As a first step, the project surroundings are presented. In Erbil, the yearly average temperature is 20.2 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 543 mm. The elevation of the proposed borehole locations ranges between 445-531 m amsl. The slopes and geology of the region are also presented in the report. The water resources in Erbil are characterized by the existence of many rivers, streams, springs, and ground water sources all of which are fed by rainfall and snow melt. The proposed boreholes fall within Erbil groundwater basin which can be divided into three main parts: North, Central and South. Five of the proposed boreholes fall in the central basin while Baharaka borehole falls within the northern basin. Additionally, biological and chemical tests have been conducted and the results turned out to be satisfactory for all tests. The proposed boreholes are all located in fully urbanized regions. As such, there are no significant ecosystems in proximity to the target area. This claim was confirmed during the site visits and investigations.

The construction and infrastructure installation for the project mainly consists of six boreholes spread around four sites within Erbil. For each borehole, there will be drilling of a well, pump installation and construction of a pumping room.

The impacts of the project are mostly negative during the construction phase. However, these negative impacts are only temporary and are greatly outweighed by the positive impacts during operation. For construction negative impacts result from vehicles and machinery operation, temporary facilities on site, laborers’ behaviors, etc. Mitigation measures are presented to avoid or at least minimize all potential negative impacts. As for the positive impacts during operation, they mainly consist of an increase of water supply and improvement of water quality. However, special care needs to be taken during water extraction in order for the project to be sustainable which requires meticulous monitoring. Water quality is also of paramount importance which is why chlorination dosages need to be carefully checked. Finally, the frequency of reporting for each mitigation measure, the person responsible and the monitoring indicators are all identified.

This assessment discusses these issues in more detail as well as outlines mitigation measures to be employed in order not only to minimize the risk to the environment as a result of these interventions, but also to improve water quality and quantity. Finally the environmental management plan will help summarize how this project can incorporate the findings and monitor them over the life of the project.


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2. Project Description There has been an increase in water demand in Erbil due to the below normal water availability in the last few years in addition to the influx of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees. This increase in demand has put the existing water systems under immense pressure resulting in restricted access to safe water. In response to this, the Department of Foreign Affairs Trade and Development, Canada (DFATD) has agreed to fund a proposed solution through World Vision. The proposed solution is to undertake a project consisting of drilling six deep boreholes spread inside Erbil to provide the necessary water supply. The six boreholes are distributed in four areas in Erbil as presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Locations of Proposed Boreholes

Location Proposed number

of boreholes Population

Baharka 1 53,270

Darato 2 61,429

Binslawa 1 53,270

Shawees 2 16,209

Total 6 184,178

The implementation of the project following the design phase can be divided into two main phases: construction and operation. The design has been approved by Erbil Water Directorate. In fact, Appendix A is the directorate’s statement that the project adheres to Iraqi engineering and environmental standards, and Appendix B is the approval from the General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities. Construction is likely to have some negative impacts on the surroundings and on the environment which is why that step will require special attention and care. However, any such impacts are temporary and will most definitely be outweighed by the positive impacts once construction is complete and operation begins. In fact, during operation, the project is expected to benefit around 184,178 residents of the Erbil region (namely Baharka, Darato, Binslawa and Shawees) as shown and detailed in Table 1. The main activities that will be causing an immediate impact are all those related to drilling the boreholes which might have temporary negative impacts. As such, clear steps and recommendations will be identified to minimize such effects. It is also of paramount importance to evaluate the convenience of the borehole locations to make sure that those will not have a negative impact when drilled and that drilling will result in the supply of clean water. The ultimate outcome of the project will result in meeting the demands of the residents, IDPs and refugees of Erbil for an adequate and clean supply of water. The objective of this assessment is to ensure that any interventions and ongoing operations of this project would not cause any long term consequences to the environment.


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3. Methodology The methodology used to complete the environmental impact assessment includes field and data collection followed by analysis of the collected information. Based on the data analysis, mitigation measures and recommendations are presented.

Several sources were used to complete the data collection required for this project. General information, including technical data, was gathered through meeting key informants from the concerned local authorities, namely Erbil Water Directorate, General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities, General Directorate of Water and Sewerage, Groundwater Directorate and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation.

In addition to meeting key personnel from the local authorities, further data was collected through observatory field visits to consolidate the understanding of the environmental setting. The four locations of the proposed boreholes along with the surrounding regions were visited and investigated. Social impacts were assessed through public discourse and interaction during the conducted site visits.

Furthermore, different types of tests were carried out on the aquifer into which the wells in question will tap such as biological and chemical tests. The purpose of these tests is to analyze and evaluate the quality of the water extracted from the wells by gathering information regarding water turbidity, pH levels, etc.

Desk review was also used as a source of information that could support the impact assessment study especially regarding some of the project’s surroundings’ description including topography, climate, etc.

Based on all the above activities, the main concerns were highlighted and analyzed as shown in the Environmental Impact Assessment report.


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4. Description of Project Surroundings

4.1. Physical

1. Climate

Iraq is almost a landlocked country. It has an extremely short coastline on the Gulf. The climate in Erbil is mild, and generally warm and temperate. There is more rainfall in the winter than in the summer. The temperature on yearly average is equal to 20.2 °C. In a year, the average rainfall is 543 mm. The figures in Table 2 and Table 3 are based on long-term weather and climate records. They are an average for Erbil weather during various months [1] [2][3].

Table 2: Erbil Climate Data

Month Average Max Temp

(°C) Average Min Temp

(°C) Average hours of sunshine per day

January 12 2 5

February 15 3 6

March 19 7 7

April 25 11 8

May 32 16 10

June 39 21 14

July 43 25 14

August 42 24 13

September 38 19 11

October 29 14 8

November 21 8 6

December 14 4 5

Table 3: Erbil Rainfall Data

Month Average days with

rain per month Average rain per

month (mm)

January 14 61-100

February 11 61-100

March 10 61-100

April 10 61-100

May 5 31-60

June 1 0-5

July 1 0-5

August 1 0-5

September 1 0-5

October 5 6-30

November 7 31-60 mm

December 10 61-100 mm


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Additional rainfall data is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Erbil Rainfall Data[4]


May 2015 10

2. Geology 2.1. Topography

As a first step, the elevation of each borehole was determined by locating them on Google Earth. These were then confirmed by GPS readings during site visits. The elevations for each borehole are shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Borehole Location Elevations

Borehole Location Elevation (m)

Binslawa 531

Baharka 469

Shawees 1 530

Shawees 2 515

Darato (old) 445

Darato (new) 455

The detailed elevations for Erbil are presented in Figure 2 and the slopes are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 2: Erbil Elevations [4]


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Figure 3: Erbil Slopes [4]

2.2. Soil Formations The four locations of the proposed deep boreholes fall on a geological layer of recent deposits (alluvial). Under the recent deposits, at different depths, the boreholes pass through the upper Bakhtiary formation. The latter formation is richer in groundwater than the recent deposits layer which is made of clay, silty clay, a bit of sand and gravel. As for the upper Bakhtiary formation, it is made of sand, gravel and a bit of silt. Regarding thickness, the upper Bakhtiary formation is 1000 m thick, as for the recent deposits layer, its thickness varies due to geological factors, the topography of the region and the elevation of the region from the average mean seal level [5]. In Darato, the borehole starts with 100 m of recent deposits, then below 100 m, the soil formation becomes of type upper Bakhtiary where water availability is good [5]. In Binslawa, the borehole is located in the upper cretaceous formation with some deposits from the Bikhtiary formation. Water availability is low because the rocks are conglomerates and due to the presence of a fault [5].


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In Shawees, the borehole is located in the upper Bakhtiary formation and its water production is a bit low due to several reasons. In fact, the water table is low, the borehole elevation from the average mean sea level is relatively high and it falls on the boundary of the recharge area. Additionally, the number of drilled wells present in the region is relatively high compared to the other borehole locations [5]. In Baharka, the borehole starts on a 10-20 m layer of recent deposits and then enters the upper Bakhtiary formation. The expected water supply is moderate. [5]

Figure 4: Erbil Soil Types [6]

2.3. Physiography

When assessing the environmental impacts related to wells and boreholes, it is of paramount importance to study the land-use around the wells in parallel to the geological nature of the region. Figure 5 represents the physiographic map of Erbil.


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The six boreholes are located on the Pleistocene geological epoch. The land-use in the area overlaying the formation tapped by these wells is one of mixed use, consisting mainly of built-up areas, farmlands, grass and open forests. Accordingly, there are no major threats to the wells and the formations that they tap into.

Figure 5: Erbil Physiographic Map (land-use + geology)[4]


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3. Water Resources 3.1. Surface Water

The water resources in Erbil are characterized by the existence of many rivers, streams, springs,

and ground water sources. However, the most important water resources are rainfall and snow.

About 40% of the surface water comes from outside the Erbil region. The major rivers are Greater

Zab and Lesser Zab which are tributaries flowing into the river Tigris in Iraq. River Tigris is located

in the south of the Kurdistan region [7]. Greater Zab tributary is the main tributary of the Tigris and

passes through Erbil Governorate and then flows into the Tigris. The Greater Zab comes from the

Wan Lake in Turkey. It enters Iraq (Kurdistan region) at Al-Amadieh city. The length of Greater Zab

is 392 km. [4]

Furthermore, there are five sub-tributaries that flow into Greater Zab (Shamezenan, Row Kochek,

Rawandous, Bastourah and Khazir). The annual discharge rate of Greater Zab is 4.190 million m3,

while the annual flow rate of the Tigris River at Mosul city is 17.173 million m3 [8]. Lesser Zab

tributary passes through the Sulaimanyah governorate. It is an international river between Iraq and

Iran. Lesser Zab originates from mountains in Iran. The river enters the border of Iraq (Kurdistan

region) at the Bedrazhour region. It is the main river that provides the major water source to Dukan

Dam in Sulaimanyah Governorate. The length of Lesser river is 400 km, and its catchment area is

around 22,250 km2. The annual discharge rate of Lesser Zab is 7.07 million m3[8].

The Greater Zab River together with Rawandous river are the only sources of surface water

available for supplying water for drinking and other purposes. Water sources in Erbil are divided

roughly equally between surface and ground sources. Erbil, in some places, has old and damaged

infrastructure plus a large numbers of boreholes (more than 500 in the governorate). But some

populated areas still suffer from poor water and sanitation networks. Erratic power supply

damages pumps and low water pressure raises the risk of bacterial infiltration. There are also a

large number of illegal connections – usually just a plastic pipe punched into the main wrapped in

rags – which are a prime source of contamination [9].

The main wadis in the South (Erbil area) are Wadi Kurdara and Shiwasor and Wadi Bastora. It is

important to note that almost all the major rivers crossing the study area have their origin outside

it, namely in Turkey (the Tigris and the Great Zab) or in Iran (the Small Zab and the Diyala), thus

their entire` watershed covers broad regions outside the study area. The average discharge of the

Great Zab at the Eskikelek gauge station registered over the period 1970-1973 was of 313 m3/s.

Daily river flow varied from 118 m3/s to 2439 m3/s [10].

Figure 6 presents the runoff values of Erbil and Figure 7 shows the streams’ locations in Erbil which

were generated using GIS data.


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Figure 6: Erbil Runoff [4]


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Figure 7: Erbil Streamlines

3.2. Ground Water The proposed boreholes fall within Erbil groundwater basin which can be divided into three main parts: North, Central and South. Five of the proposed boreholes fall on the central basin while Baharaka falls within the northern basin. The groundwater in these basins is of granular type and is considered to be one of the purest kinds because of its filtration through the granular ground, and because of its chemical properties, being far from salts, gypsum and anhydrite and sulfate. Twenty years ago, Baharka’s wells were all artesian. This is no longer the case because of the drop in the water table. This is due to the high number of wells, the drought of the last few years and the lack of recharge of groundwater which leads to the lowering of the static water level, dynamic water level and discharge [5]. The direction of flow of groundwater is from North-East to South-West which is why in Binslawa the water flow of boreholes is lower than the other locations. This is also due to the fact that there is


May 2015 17

no layer of clay at the other locations. Shawees has a similar situation to Binslawa, the groundwater there does not form a confined aquifer (the reservoirs of groundwater are unconfined aquifers or semi-confined) due to the lack of clay. As for Baharka, it is more convenient than Binslawa and Shawees, this is why the wells water supply there and in Dar Toto is more convenient than the other places [5].

3.3. Water Flow Rate (Hydraulic conductivity test results) Two hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted within the project location as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8: Hydraulic Conductivity Tests Locations

The results of these tests are shown in Table 5 and Table 6.


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Table 5: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 1 Results [11]

VES No.

Aquifer Thickness

(m)

Aquifer resistivity

(W.m)

Formation Factor

Porosity Hydraulic

conductivity (m.s-1)

Aquifer Transmissivity

(m2d-1)

1 76 85 49.1 0.14 0.026 2.0

2 116 73 42.2 0.15 0.019 2.2

3 95 400 231.2 0.07 0.672 63.8

4 97 65 37.6 0.16 0.015 1.5

5 82 66 30.2 0.18 0.010 0.8

6 64 140 81 0.11 0.075 4.8

7 ---- 48 27.7 0.19 0.008

8 44 165 95.4 0.10 0.106 4.6

9 34 26 15 0.26 0.002 0.1

10 40 65 37.6 0.16 0.015 0.6

11 ---- 54 31.2 0.18 0.010

12 ---- 103 59.5 0.13 0.039

13 125 280 161.8 0.08 0.319 39.8

14 200 75 43.5 0.15 0.020 4.1

15 88 120 69.4 0.12 0.054 4.8

16 ---- 80 46.2 0.15 0.023

17 170 75 43.3 0.15 0.020 3.4

18 ---- 210 121.3 0.09 0.174

19 110 44 25.4 0.20 0.007 0.7

20 ---- 44 25.4 0.20 0.007

21 160 53 30.6 0.18 0.010 1.6

Table 6: Hydraulic Conductivity Test 2 Results [12]

Governorate Pedon Horizon Depth Sand Silt Clay Tex. Bulk density Porosity MWD Ksat

cm g. kg-1 μg. m-3 % mm cm.h-1

Erbil

P1

Ap 0-25 286.5 396.2 317.3 CL 1.44 40 3.21 55.12

Bt1 25-75 333.9 265.5 400.6 CL 1.51 38 2.76 43.33

Bt2 75-100 318.8 295.75 385.4 CL 1.61 36 2.11 41.11

P2

Ap 0-25 310.7 272.1 417.2 C 1.31 42 4.45 88.67

Bk 25-75 436.3 359.55 204.1 L 1.4 40 2.45 45.67

Ck 75-100 553.6 176.7 269.7 SCL 1.4 37 2.34 41.34

P3 Ap 0-25 282 148 534 C 1.26 52 2.63 18.7

Bk 25-80 171 135 377 SC 1.31 49 1.6 33

P4 Ap 0-25 289 437 274 CL 1.19 55 2.92 9.89

Bk 25-80 226 490 284 CL 1.26 51 2.05 1.27


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The hydraulic conductivity from Test 1 (near Baharka) shows some very high conductivities with very few readings of low conductivity. Test 2 shows lower conductivities than Test 1 but they are all predominantly promising of good yield.

3.4. Water Quality In order to assess water quality, several chemical and biological tests were conducted on all of the concerned locations. The tests were conducted by the Quality Assurance department of the Erbil Water Directorate in Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The detailed results of the tests are presented in Table 7 and Table 8 [13][14]. All the tests conducted proved to be satisfactory.

Table 7: Chemical Test Results

No Location Source Date Turb PH E.C T.D.S T.Alk. T.H Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+ Cl- NO3- SO4

2- Result

1 Daratoo No.1 Well 9/3/15 3.1 7.6 350 175 200 209 53 18.4 9 1 23 36 16 Satisfactory






7 Bharka Kamp No.1 Well 16/3/15 1 7.7 430 215 196 204 51 18.4 15 1 10 22 22 Satisfactory

8 Bharka No.1 Well 17/3/15 0.3 8.3 631 316 225 181 45 16.4 69 2 37 17 69

9 Bharka No.2 Well 17/3/15 0.2 8.1 650 325 231 241 61 21.2 32 2 39 26 70 Satisfactory












21 Shaweas No.5 Well 30/3/15 0.7 7.7 588 294 210 232 58 20.9 25 1 18 24 44 Satisfactory






27 Kargakan No.9 Well 30/3/15 0.9 8 458 229 182 194 49 17.2 29 1 11 18 47 Satisfactory




31 Shaweas No.17 Well 31/3/15 0.8 7.9 417 209 187 205 52 18 4 1 12 25 17 Satisfactory


May 2015 20

Table 8: Biological Test Results

No Location Source Date Re

Cl2

MPNFecal

Coli E.Coli

MPNTotal

Coli

Plate

Count V.C Temp Result

1 Daratu No. 1 Well 3/9/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory











12 Daratu No. 10 Well 3/15/2015 2 0 0 2.2 0 0 20 Satisfactory


14 Kampi Bahrka Well 3/16/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory

15 Bahrka No. 1 Well 3/17/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory








23 Bhrka No. 5 Well 3/18/2015 2 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory




27 Shawes No. 1 Well 3/30/2015 1 0 0 0 0 0 20 Satisfactory


















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4.2. Biophysical

The proposed boreholes are all located in fully urbanized regions. As such, there are no significant ecosystems in proximity to the target area. This claim was confirmed during the site visits and investigations.


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5. Environmental Issues

5.1. Map of Physical Works and Undertakings

During the conducted field visits, GPS points for each of the proposed boreholes were collected. The

results are shown in Table 9.

Table 9: Boreholes GPS Coordinates

Location Northing Easting

Baharka 36.3151 °N 44.0372 °E

New Darato 36.1192 °N 44.0821 °E

Old Darato 36.1222 °N 44.0543 °E

Binslawa 36.1577 °N 44.1315 °E

Shawees 1 36.2496 °N 44.0938 °E

Shawees 2 36.2422 °N 44.0839 °E

Using the coordinates, each borehole is located on Google Earth as shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Boreholes' Locations

It is important to note that all borehole locations have been approved by the Ministry of

Municipality and Tourism in Kurdistan region. Specifically, Appendix A is the directorate’s

statement that the project adheres to Iraqi engineering and environmental standards, and

Appendix B is the approval from the General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities.


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To get a clearer idea of the surroundings of each borehole, additional zoomed-in figures are

provided for each of the four regions in Figure 10, Figure 11, Figure 12 and Figure 13.

Figure 10: Shawees Boreholes

Figure 11: Binslawa Boreholes


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Figure 12: Darato Boreholes

Figure 13: Baharka Boreholes


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5.2. Concerns for Infrastructure

The construction and infrastructure installation mainly consists of six boreholes spread around four sites within Erbil. For each borehole, there will be drilling of a well, pump installation and construction of a pumping room. Drawings of these items are shown in Figure 14, Figure 15, Figure 16, Figure 17 and Figure 18 [15]. The impacts for the construction of the below are presented in details in Table 10.

Figure 14: Typical Well Cross Section – Drilling

Figure 15: Pumping Room - Facade Details


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Figure 16: Typical Well Cross Section

Figure 17: Water Well connection inside the well


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Figure 18: Typical Well Cross Section - Submersible Pump Installation


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6. Analysis of Environmental Impacts

6.1. Summary of Impacts

Table 10 summarizes the impacts for each activity related to the project and presents the magnitude, frequency, likelihood and consequence of each impact.

Table 10: Summary of Impacts

Activity Type of Impact Magnitude Frequency /

Duration Likelihood

Consequence (+ / -)

CONSTRUCTION PHASE

Site Preparation

Construction of temporary site offices and lay down area may have a limited impact on the topography

Minimal Temporary Low Negative

Commercial activities hindered because of the difficulty of access

Medium Only during construction

Low Negative

General use of vehicles and machinery

Water for wash down of vehicles and machinery on site may contaminate groundwater

Significant Permanent Low Negative

Spills or leaks of fuels, lubricants or chemicals from machinery and vehicles may contaminate groundwater


Source of noise Medium Only during construction

High Negative

General laborer presence on site

Inadequate storage and management of litter, construction waste and liquid wastes prior to disposal


Medium Negative

Effluent from construction workers’ temporary amenities leaching into groundwater, carrying nutrients and micro-organisms

Significant Permanent Medium Negative

Contamination of the storm water from litter and construction wastes and untreated effluent from temporary workers' amenities


Low Negative


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Duration Likelihood

Consequence (+ / -)

Odor generated from sewer of worker's amenities

Significant Only during construction

High Negative

Traffic due to transport of personnel Medium Only during construction

Medium Negative

Excavation works

Heavy noises near schools can affect learning


Minimal Negative

Dust emissions generated from earthworks due to loading and unloading of materials on site and from uncovered truckload

Minimal Only during construction

Medium Negative

Contamination of storm water from exposed soils sediments


Low Negative

High volume of excavation and filling may alter flow paths within the portions under construction


High Negative

Backfilling with clean materials around the pipe with good compaction

Improved water supply quality and quantity

Significant Permanent High Positive

Connecting new line from water well with main pipe line and installing gate valves

Better water extraction control Medium Permanent High Positive

Manhole construction Potential worker accidents from constructing manholes


Low Negative

Removal of debris hauling to an approved location

Traffic congestions Medium Only during construction

Medium Negative

Adverse impact on the health of the workers and residents in and around the due to deterioration of the air quality, increase of noise and traffic


Medium Negative

Volatile emissions during earthwork phase from solvents and fuels stored or used on the Project site


High Negative

Exhaust and dust emissions from Medium Only during High Negative


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Duration Likelihood

Consequence (+ / -)

construction vehicles and machinery construction

Circuit breaker 30 A Protection in case of electrical overload or short circuit

Significant Permanent Low Positive

Facility façade Negative visual effect on aesthetics Minimal Permanent Medium Negative

Drilling of water wells Heavy noises near schools can affect learning

Minimal Only during construction

High Negative

Supply of suitable gravel for well filtration

Proper installation will result in good water quality

Significant Permanent High Positive

Installation of electric cables to connect the well with the power source

Use of potentially harmful materials (e.g. PCB)


Provision of chlorination device Improper dosage may alter water quality


Disposal of pumping fluid Improper disposal may lead to surface water pollution


Medium Negative

OPERATION PHASE

Water extraction

Water drawdown Significant Permanent Low Negative

Unsustainable water use Medium Permanent Low Negative

Impact on neighboring wells Medium Permanent Low Negative

Increase of water supply Significant Permanent High Positive

Pump room operation

Halted operation due to electricity cuts Medium Single event occurrences

Low Negative

Pollution in case generators are needed Minimal Permanent Medium Negative

Contamination of water due to spills and propagation of chemical elements (e.g. PCB, oil, etc.)

Significant Permanent Medium Negative

Noise pollution Minimal Permanent High Negative

Well facilities Aesthetic issue Minimal Permanent Medium Negative

Chlorination Risk of wrong dosage Significant Single event

occurrences Low Negative

Improved water quality Significant Permanent High Positive


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7. Environmental Considerations during Implementation The mitigation actions and approaches of all identified impacts are presented in Table 11.

Table 11: Impacts and their mitigation actions

Activity/Impact Mitigating Actions and Approaches


Limit earthworks to the minimum required for the proposed facilities such as site office

Commercial activities hindered because of the difficulty of access

Local residents should be employed during the construction phases wherever feasible


Provision of uncontaminated water for dust suppression and wash down of vehicles and machinery


Spill control measures should be implemented to prevent spills from infiltrating into the groundwater table. Measures should include appropriate materials handling and storage procedures, and development of contingency plans in the event of a spill

Noise pollution during construction

Make sure all machinery and vehicles are fitted with appropriate mufflers, and that all mufflers and acoustic treatments are in good working order;

Make sure all machinery and vehicles are regularly maintained and broken parts (such as mufflers) are replaced immediately

Make sure all machinery and vehicles are operated efficiently and according to the manufacturers specifications, by trained and qualified operator

Make sure that activities likely to cause adverse noise impacts are timed to have least impact on surrounding land users and other site activities (such as the schools and the hospitals)

Make sure all personnel are issued with hearing protection and are advised of its proper use

Consultation of earthwork hours with affected residents and nearby sensitive receivers


Waste management measures should be implemented to prevent litter and debris and liquid wastes from entering soil excavations


Provision of temporary amenities for workers. Effluent should be treated or suitably disposed off-site

Contamination of storm water from litter and construction wastes and untreated effluent from temporary workers' amenities

Waste control measures should be implemented to prevent litter and construction waste from infiltrating into the groundwater table

Provision of suitable workers’ amenities facilities. If possible,


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effluent should be disposed of off-site at a nearby STP


Re-use any excess excavation material generated by the construction within the site or on the other nearby projects. The deposit of waste to landfill is a last resort.

Reduce as much as possible difference between cut and fill


Provision of suitable workers’ amenities, located within the construction area and, if possible, downwind from residential areas

Regular maintenance of workers’ amenities, including the emptying of effluent storage tanks

Traffic congestions during construction

Provision of shared worker's transport from workers accommodation to the proposed Project site

Installation of warning signs and specified speed limits (site roads should reduce traffic speeds to 20 km/hr)

The use of local construction materials where practical to avoid long journeys

Provision of adequate lighting on site road and parking areas

Timing of construction activity, such as restricting construction traffic to designated roads during designated times

Design a traffic plan to make sure that traffic avoids, where possible, congested and heavily populated areas and dusty roads


Construction works within 100m of schools should be restricted to outside school hours (such as before and after school, during school holidays or weekends, or left as the final stage of works); Wire fence meshing, dust screens or wooden hoardings should be installed to delineate the construction area and therefore decrease impacts; The access points for construction vehicles should be a minimum of 100m from school access


Minimizing the height and slope of stockpiles to ensure erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events does not occur

Side enclosure and covering, by impervious sheeting, of any aggregate or other dusty material stockpiles

Dusty vehicle loads transported to, from and within the Project site should be covered by sheets and should not be overloaded


The height and slope of stockpiles should be limited to minimize erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events

Locating stockpiles on flat areas, away from storm water. Ensure that sediment or erosion cannot reach a waterway; Diversion of overland flow around work areas / construction


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sites

Potential worker accidents from constructing manholes

Following mitigation measures are recommended for the prevention of gas emissions


Implement the air quality, noise and traffic mitigation measures as described in the relevant sections

Volatile emissions during earthwork phase from solvents and fuels stored or used on the Project site

Ensure all machinery is in good order and repair and not leaking fuel or volatile emissions from fuel tanks or fuel lines

A full list of all volatile fuels and chemicals stored on site should be kept by the site supervisor, including accompanying volumes, locations and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

Exhaust and dust emissions from construction vehicles and machinery

Use of modern machinery, with adequate pollution control devices. Regular maintenance and inspection programs for all construction vehicles.

Proper and efficient operation of construction machinery and vehicles by qualified workers

Regular maintenance and inspection program for all construction vehicles

Minimize unnecessary operation of construction machinery, including efficiency of trip times and reduction of double handling through appropriate placement of stockpiles, haul roads, work depots and work areas

Daily visual checks to ensure the above points are followed, particularly in regards to smoke emissions from vehicles and plants. Equipment generating smoke should be given defect notices and taken out of service until repaired and approved for re-deployment by site supervisor.

Negative visual effect on aesthetics Design facilities’ facades in a subtle way that matches its surroundings and reduce their size as much as possible to minimize the potential negative effects on aesthetics.


Limit use of harmful materials. If unavoidable, impose monitoring and maintenance

Improper chlorination dosage may alter water quality

Regular monitoring of water content and of chlorination performance

Improper disposal of pumping fluid may lead to surface water pollution

Place pumping fluid in detention/evaporation ponds on site

Water drawdown Control water extraction to match as close as possible the groundwater recharge rate

Unsustainable water use

Water extraction monitoring

Sensitize and educate the beneficiaries/refugees on the need to conserve water and promote best practices in the use of water

Improved irrigation practices

Impact on neighboring wells Make sure that the proposed borehole is located at an


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acceptable distance from other existing boreholes

Halted operation due to electricity cuts Use backup sources of power (e.g. traditional, renewable, etc.)

Pollution in case generators are needed Use double hulled storage tanks for fuel


Store chemicals in a contained location with no drainage connection to the water network

Ensure that transformers are located on impermeable and contained surfaces

Noise pollution during operation Plant trees and shrubs around facility

Risk of wrong chlorination dosage Regular monitoring of water content and of chlorination performance

7.1. Monitoring Environment Effects and Mitigation

During the construction phase, the resident engineer on site would designate a person to continuously monitor the activities that have been highlighted above that would cause a negative impact and that subsequently necessitate mitigation action. The monitoring would ensure that mitigation measures are strictly followed and any nonconformance would be reported to the resident engineer for correction. Some monitoring activities would include but not be limited to:

Site inspection Construction activities Disposal activities Worker behavior Traffic Power supply Etc.

Such a monitoring effort would limit any negative impact from nonconformance and would enable a better implementation of the management plan In order to ensure that the boreholes are properly operating there would be a team, from Erbil Water Directorate, designated for their follow-up. During operation this team would also monitor on a regular basis the level of water in the wells, chlorination dosage and power supply – the main potential sources of negative impacts.


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8. Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan Table 12 presents the monitoring indicators, reporting frequency and person responsible for each mitigation measure identified for the project.

Table 12: Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan

Environmental Component and Activity

Mitigating Measure(s) Monitoring Indicator(s)

Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible


Limit earthworks to the minimum required for the proposed facilities such as site offices

Earthwork quantities optimization Prior to commencing earthworks

Construction Manager

Commercial activities hindered because of difficulty of access

Local residents should be employed during the construction phases wherever feasible

Number of local residents employed Prior to and during construction



Provision of uncontaminated water for dust suppression and wash down of vehicles and machinery

Water quality for dust suppression Bi - Weekly Site Supervisor


Spill control measures should be implemented to prevent spills from infiltrating into the groundwater table. Measures should include appropriate materials handling and storage procedures, and development of contingency plans in the event of a spill

Correctness of procedures and plans Prior to commencing construction

Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer

Noise pollution during construction

Make sure all machinery and vehicles are fitted with appropriate mufflers, and that all mufflers and acoustic treatments are in good working order;

Visual inspections Noise level

Prior to construction and update as required

Site Supervisor

Make sure all machinery and vehicles Visual inspections Daily Site Supervisor


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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

are regularly maintained and broken parts (such as mufflers) are replaced immediately

Noise level

Make sure all machinery and vehicles are operated efficiently and according to the manufacturers specifications, by trained and qualified operator


Prior to construction

Site Supervisor

Make sure that activities likely to cause adverse noise impacts are timed to have least impact on surrounding land users and other site activities (such as schools and hospitals)

Noise level Daily/Weekly Construction Manager Site Supervisor

Make sure all personnel are issued with hearing protection and are advised of its proper use


Daily/weekly Safety Engineer

Consultation of earthwork hours with affected residents and nearby sensitive receivers

Noise level at different times Residents feedback

Prior to and during construction



Waste management measures should be implemented to prevent litter and debris and liquid wastes from entering soil excavations

Visual inspections of site During construction



Provision of temporary amenities for workers. Effluent should be treated or suitably disposed off-site

Efficiency of provided amenities Prior to commencing construction


Contamination of storm Waste control measures should be Efficiency of proposed measures Prior to Health Officer


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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

water from litter and construction wastes and untreated effluent from temporary workers' amenities

implemented to prevent litter and construction waste from infiltrating into the groundwater table

commencing construction

Water/Sanitation Officer

Provision of suitable workers’ amenities facilities. If possible, effluent should be disposed of off-site at a nearby STP




Re-use any excess excavation material generated by the construction within the site or on the other nearby projects. The deposit of waste to landfill is a last resort.

Location and quantities of cut and fill volumes

During construction

Construction Manager Site Supervisor

Reduce as much as possible difference between cut and fill

Cut and fill volumes Before construction

Design Engineer


Provision of suitable workers’ amenities, located within the construction area and, if possible, downwind from residential areas


Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer Site Supervisor

Regular maintenance of workers’ amenities, including the emptying of effluent storage tanks

Efficiency of provided amenities Prior to and during construction

Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer Site Supervisor

Traffic congestions

Provision of shared worker's transport from workers accommodation to the proposed Project site

Number of vehicles required to transport workers

Daily/Weekly Site Supervisor

Installation of warning signs and specified speed limits (site roads should reduce traffic speeds to 20 km/hr)

Efficiency of signs location Prior to commencing construction

Site Supervisor

The use of local construction materials where practical to avoid long journeys

Number of local suppliers involved compared to non-local construction materials




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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

Provision of adequate lighting on site road and parking areas

Efficiency of light distribution and intensity


Site Supervisor

Timing of construction activity, such as restricting construction traffic to designated roads during designated times

Traffic level of service Prior to and during construction


Design a traffic plan to make sure that traffic avoids, where possible, congested and heavily populated areas and dusty roads

Traffic level of service Prior to and during construction

Traffic Engineer


Construction works within 100m of schools should be restricted to outside school hours (such as before and after school, during school holidays or weekends, or left as the final stage of works); Wire fence meshing, dust screens or wooden hoardings should be installed to delineate the construction area and therefore decrease impacts; The access points for construction vehicles should be a minimum of 100m from school access

Noise levels School feedback




Minimizing the height and slope of stockpiles to ensure erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events does not occur

Visual inspections Prior to commencing construction

Site Supervisor

Side enclosure and covering, by impervious sheeting, of any aggregate or other dusty material stockpiles

Visual inspections Prior to commencing construction

Site Supervisor


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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

Dusty vehicle loads transported to, from and within the Project site should be covered by sheets and should not be overloaded

Visual inspections Daily/Weekly Site Supervisor


The height and slope of stockpiles should be limited to minimize erosion of unconsolidated materials during rainfall events

Visual inspections Daily checks of the location of the stockpiles

Site Supervisor

Locating stockpiles on flat areas, away from storm water. Ensure that sediment or erosion cannot reach a waterway; Diversion of overland flow around work areas / construction sites

Visual inspections Daily checks of the location of the stockpiles

Site Supervisor

Potential worker accidents from constructing manholes

Following mitigation measures are recommended for the prevention of gas emissions

Efficiency of mitigation measure for gas emissions prevention


Safety Engineer


Implement the air quality, noise and traffic mitigation measures as described in the relevant sections

Efficiency of assigned mitigation measures


Safety Engineer Site Supervisor

Volatile emissions during earthwork phase from solvents and fuels stored or used on the project site

Ensure all machinery is in good order and repair and not leaking fuel or volatile emissions from fuel tanks or fuel lines

Visual inspections Daily/Weekly Site Supervisor

A full list of all volatile fuels and chemicals stored on site should be kept, including accompanying volumes, locations and Material Safety Data

List of volatile fuels and chemicals Update the register as necessary

Site Supervisor


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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

Sheets (MSDSs)

Exhaust and dust emissions from construction vehicles and machinery

Use of modern machinery, with adequate pollution control devices. Regular maintenance and inspection programs for all construction vehicles.

Visual inspections Daily Construction Manager Site Supervisor

Proper and efficient operation of construction machinery and vehicles by qualified workers

Workers qualifications Visual inspections

Prior to commencing construction


Regular maintenance and inspection program for all construction vehicles

Maintenance and inspection program efficiency and implementation

In accordance with manufacturer requirements


Minimize unnecessary operation of construction machinery, including efficiency of trip times and reduction of double handling through appropriate placement of stockpiles, haul roads, work depots and work areas

Optimized total expected trip time compared to usual total trip time


Site Supervisor Traffic Engineer

Daily visual checks to ensure the above points are followed, particularly in regards to smoke emissions from vehicles and plants. Equipment generating smoke should be given defect notices and taken out of service until repaired and approved for re-deployment by site supervisor.

Visual checks Daily Health Officer

Negative visual effect on aesthetics

Design facilities’ facades in a subtle way that matches its surroundings and reduce their size as much as possible to minimize the potential

Façade design Prior to construction

Design Engineer


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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

negative effects on aesthetics.


Limit use of harmful materials. If unavoidable, impose monitoring and maintenance

Amount of harmful materials used Weekly Health Officer Site Supervisor

Inadequate chlorination dosage may alter water quality


Water quality tests Arsenic <0.01 mg/L Lead <0.01 mg/L Total coli forms not detectable in any 100 ml sample Copper <2 mg/L Nitrate <50 mg/L Nitrite <0.2 mg/L Fluoride <1.5 mg/L

Daily Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer

Improper disposal of pumping fluid may lead to surface water pollution

Place pumping fluid in detention/evaporation ponds on site


Prior and during construction

Site Supervisor

Water drawdown Control water extraction to match as close as possible the groundwater recharge rate

Amount of water being extracted Bi-weekly Water/Sanitation Officer

Unsustainable water use

Water extraction monitoring Amount of water being extracted Bi-weekly Water/Sanitation Officer

Sensitize and educate the beneficiaries/refugees/IDPs on the need to conserve water and promote best practices in the use of water

Amount of water being extracted Beneficiaries/refugees/IDPs feedback and reaction

Biannual Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer

Improved irrigation practices Amount of water being used for Quarterly Water/Sanitation


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Data Collection and

Reporting Frequency

Responsible

irrigation Officer

Impact on neighboring wells

Make sure that the proposed borehole is located at an acceptable distance from other existing boreholes

Proposed and existing borehole locations Distance between them


Hydrogeologist Consultant

Halted operation due to electricity cuts

Use backup sources of power (e.g. traditional, renewable, etc.)

Hours of electricity cuts per day In case of power cuts

Local authorities

Pollution in case generators are needed

Use double hulled storage tanks for fuel

Hours per day during which generator is being used

Always Contractor


Store chemicals in a contained location with no drainage connection to the water network


Always Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer

Ensure that transformers are located on impermeable and contained surfaces

Location of transformers Type of surfaces on which transformers are located

Before construction

Hydrogeologist

Noise pollution during operation

Plant trees and shrubs around facility Trees layout, number and height At the end of construction

Landscape Engineer

Risk of wrong chlorination dosage


Water quality tests Arsenic <0.01 mg/L Lead <0.01 mg/L Copper <2 mg/L Nitrate <50 mg/L Nitrite <0.2 mg/L Fluoride <1.5 mg/L

Daily Health Officer Water/Sanitation Officer


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9. Conclusions

In summing up the environmental impact assessment of the project, it can be readily claimed that the project has net positive impact – mainly on the health of the beneficiaries through their supply of adequate quantities of clean water. The negative impacts are minimal and are mainly concentrated in the construction phase which is temporary. It should be highlighted, that it is important to continuously monitor the level of water table level. This is critical for the entire region and would not be caused by the six additional wells – there are tens more within the Erbil region.


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10. References

[1] Climate Data, "Climate Data: Arbil," [Online]. Available: http://en.climate-data.org/location/4976/.

[2] Erbilia, "Erbilia," [Online]. Available: http://www.erbilia.com/erbil-info/weather/.

[3] what's the weather like, "Erbil Climate Info," [Online]. Available:

http://www.whatstheweatherlike.org/iraq/erbil.htm.

[4] H. M. Hameed, "Water harvesting in Erbil Governorate, Kurdistan region, Iraq - Detection of

suitable sites using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing," Lund University, Sweden,

2013.

[5] Erbil Water Directorate, "Hydrogeology Report," Erbil, 2011.

[6] R. Dizayee, "Groundwater Degradation and Sustainability of the Erbil Basin, Erbil, Kurdistan Region,

Iraq," Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 2014.

[7] UNDP, "UNDP," 2011. [Online]. Available: www.unhcr.org. [Accessed 2015].

[8] A. Heshmati, "Integrated water resources management in Kurdistan Region," Nova Science, New

York, 2009.

[9] World Health Organization, "Iraq Briefing - Northern Governorates: Water Quality," 2000.

[10] C. Tavaglia, "Groundwater search by remote sensing: A methodological approach," Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, 2003.

[11] F. A. Ghaib, "The Assesssment of Erbil Aquifer using Geo-Electrical Investigation (Iraqi Kurdistan

Region)," Journal of Applied Sciences in Environmental Sanitation, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 43-54, 2009.

[12] A. S. Ati, A. Ibrahim and A. R. Jubair, "Relationship between the Normalized Difference Vegetation

Index (NDVI) and Some Soil Characteristics in the North of Iraq," IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Ve

terinary Science, vol. 7, no. 10, pp. 39-45, 2014.

[13] Erbil Water Directorate, "Chemical and Physical Test," Kurdistan, 2015.

[14] Erbil Water Directorate, "Bacterial Test," Kurdistan, 2015.

[15] S. Aziz, "Drawings," Erbil Water Directorate, Erbil.


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Appendix A: Erbil Water Directorate Approval


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Appendix B: General Directorate of Erbil Municipalities Approval


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