Environmental impact assessment of potable water supply and sanitation in rural areas of developing countries

Nanbakhsh, H

Abstract

The main objective of the present research was to
assess the environmental impacts of the provision of
potable water supplies and sanitation projects, both during
the construction and operation phases. The research was
related to rural areas of developing countries. Field
research was undertaken in the rural areas of the Northwest
and Central regions of Iran.
Data were obtained by observations and survey from the
field, and a comprehensive questionnaire and literature
review. Interviews were carried out by the author in
households, particularly women, in four villages with a
piped water supply and sanitation facilities, and four
villages without such facilities, in the two different
regions.
To assess the beneficial and negative impacts stemming
from the projects, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
techniques were used. After the application of EIA through
the use of checklist of impacts and the Leopold's matrix,
results demonstrated that the implementation of water
supply and sanitation projects can have several negative
impacts on the natural environment, and positive beneficial
impacts on the social and economic environment. In relation to water supply and sanitation projects,
the most effective EIA method was shown by this study to
be the Leopold's matrix. It can identify both positive and
negative impacts and the interaction between the project
activities and environmental parameters. The most important
recommendations that stem from this research are, that
project planners and water engineers should employ EIA
methods in planning water projects, particularly in the
rural areas of developing countries.

Citation

Nanbakhsh, H. Environmental impact assessment of potable water supply and sanitation in rural areas of developing countries. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 26, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 26, 2011
• Award Date: Jan 1, 1993