Final Report - Asian Development Bank

TA 4721-PRC: Preparing the Shaanxi-Qinling Mountains Integrated Ecosystem Management Project
Final Report Appendix 15
32. The proposed development will extract water from an existing artesian well. To evaluate the
sustainability of the groundwater resource, a study was conducted by the Shaanxi Geological Survey
Institute in 1992. The EIA of HSDCC(II) was carried out by the No. 203 Institute of Xianyang. The study
results show that the geothermal well was developed in December 1992 with a depth of 1701 m. The hot
water is stored in a fractured rock aquifer under Qinling piedmont. The aquifer is 443m thick and is located
at a depth of between 1258m to 1701m. The isotopic study showed that the aquifer is recharged by both
deep geothermic water and surface infiltration. It was reported the water head was 24 m above ground and
the outflow rate was 33.7 m 3 /h with a temperature of 56º C when the well was constructed in 1992. Based
on 15 years’ observations, there is no significant change in water level, temperature and water chemistry.
The current demand, 144m 3 /d, therefore does not break the recharge/discharge balance. The study
concluded that the geothermal water supply is sustainable if it is maintained at the current outflow rate. A
protection zone is in place with no geothermal well allowable within 1 km of north/south direction and 2 km
in east/west direction.
33. It is anticipated that the total wastewater discharge will be 59,536 tons per year after the completion
of Phase II, of which 12,415 tons per year will be from the hot spring. A wastewater treatment system has
been designed for treating the sewage before its discharge to the municipal sewer system. The proposed
sewage treatment system includes pretreatment by a septic tank and further treatment by a biological
treatment system. The system will also remove the high content of iron, fluoride, chloride and sulphate from
the used hot spring water. Sewage sludge will be disposed in accordance with the requirements of EPB or
used as fertilizer. Solid waste, 185 t/a, will be collected, sorted on site and then disposed in the Zhouzhi
landfill site.
D. CDA Component
34. The CDA of the PA will be managed for the primary purpose of biodiversity conservation. The long
term vision for the in-situ area is to develop and enhance the ecological sustainability of natural resources
and ecosystems to enable biodiversity to be enhanced, managed and secured. The long term status of the
CDA involves improved coverage and quality of forest to increase the habitat for Qinling Mountain
biodiversity.
35. The reforestation and silviculture development proposed while on a large scale is not expected to
have any negative effects and will be managed through the preparation of a habitat and forest management
plan for CDA. Any small enterprise development including home-stay tourism and forest product processing
will need to be screened by the PMO and Louguantai Forest Farm division of QNBG priority to being
approved.
36. Rural Livelihoods improvement will be through the development of small enterprises, provision of
social infrastructure linked to water and solar energy with potential adverse impact associated with
construction or renovation of the basic facilities, and tourism activities during their operation. These will be
mitigated by the environmental considerations of: (i) Design should be consistent with the landscape and
will include sustainable practices to reduce environmental impact. The sites selected should enable the
infrastructure to integrate harmoniously with nature and cultural environments. It is encouraged to use
natural colors and materials to blend with the landscape, and traditional local design features. Use of
concrete and steel is to be avoided. (ii) Low energy consumption technologies for lighting will be utilized.
Where feasible, water heating will be provided by solar panels. Cooking will be undertaken using a
combination of biogas and main electricity supply. Construction combines traditional and modern
technologies and material to ensure robust and energy saving buildings. (iii) Solid waste: Convert
biodegradable waste to compost that can be used on site. Non-biodegradable would be collected and
removed from the in-situ area for disposal in the municipal landfill. A policy of recycling will be introduced.
(iv) water supply: It is expected that the water supply will be from a local spring source (quality tested), (v)
sewage and wastewater: Septic tanks combining with on site small biological treatment will be applied. (vi)
walking trails - existing footpaths will be used. Low numbers of users will require no upgrading /surfacing of
paths. (viii) All the ecology, homestay and other micro-scale resource based tourism activity will be covered
by a monitoring system under the environmental monitoring plan of the Project.
37. Subcomponent D includes road and mountain pathway improvement. The canyon road covers a
total length of 17.5 km mountain path improvements would involve a total length of 109 km. The seven
mountain paths would have the following routes: Jinniuping – Shouyangshan – 13.2 km; Jinniuping –
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