Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

Water resources may be at risk during these construction activities from
pollution from the accidental spillage of fuel and hazardous materials,
lubricants, cement and wet concrete, or from the inadequate or unsafe storage
of waste and disposal of sanitary wastewater and domestic water from the
contractors during the construction work site and facilities. The construction
of the water abstraction boreholes may have negative impacts on groundwater
quality due to the new permanent or temporary pathways created between
pollutant sources and the aquifers.
Contamination of water resources would impact on water abstraction for
domestic, agricultural and other commercial uses in the vicinity and cause
harm to ecosystems, including animals and crops, and potentially human
health. The potential health impacts on the local community resulting from
contamination of water resources is discussed and assessed in Section 7.15.
Water uses during construction include drinking water for construction staff,
water for concrete batching and dust mitigation and management and could
result in drawdown of groundwater resources and stress on water supply.
The EIA assumes that the aquifer yields at the Project site are in line with the
general yields for the Benin City area. Azura Power will confirm that there is
sufficient groundwater available for use for the Project during the detailed
design phase.
Impact Significance
Potential Contamination of Water Resources
The potential impacts on water resources during construction will be negative
and local as any impacts are likely to be felt on the site and adjacent areas.
The construction impacts are likely to be long-term as they may be felt after
the end of the construction phase. The magnitude of the impact is therefore
considered to be moderate as there may be some effect on the ecological
functioning, but this will not impact the overall integrity of the ecosystem.
There are no surface water bodies located on site. The closest surface water
bodies are:
• a small non-perennial pond (which partially fills up with water during the
rainy season) which is located approximately 800 m to the north of the
boundary of the proposed site; and
• the Ikpoba River Dam which lies approximately 4 km east from the
proposed site.
The underlying groundwater aquifer is considered to be highly permeable,
porous, with a prolific water yield, lies approximately 800 m thick, with the
water level varying between 20 and 52 m below the surface (Erah, Akujieze
and Oteze, 2002). The overall receptor sensitivity of ground and surface water
resources is considered to be moderate.
AZURA EDO IPP
7-41
DRAFT EIA REPORT