Projects

Independent Review of Samut Prakarn Wastewater Management Project is Underway

An independent review to assess this project commenced 19 March 2001. The review panel, led by environmental specialist Dr. Kevin Boland, comprises three independent experts of international repute in the fields of environment, aquatic ecology/mussel aquaculture, and public health. Each of them has been selected from a long list of international experts based on their knowledge and experience in their respective field of expertise. The review is expected to take up to 10 weeks.

The final terms of reference for this Independent Review appear below. A Thai version will be posted shortly on http://www.samutpkwater.com.

The independent review will focus on the environmental, ecological and public health aspects of the project, and address the main concerns expressed by civil society on its likely impact on the local community. The terms of reference (TOR) for the review were finalized following a two-month public consultation during which the draft TOR were published in English and Thai and the public was invited to comment and suggest names of potential review members.

Many comments from various sources, including the local community in Thailand, were received and these were taken into account before the TOR were finalized on 12 March 2001 by ADB and the Government of Thailand's Pollution Control Department (PCD), the project's implementing agency.

The review panel welcomes comments and suggestions from members of the public on any aspect of the project and will be happy to discuss with interested parties until 10 April 2001. The review panel can be contacted at PCD in Bangkok, Thailand (phone: 662 619 2284 or fax: 662 619 2282, or email spwpcu@hotmail.com). Written comments can be sent to: Independent Review Panel for SPWMP, c/o Pollution Control Department, Phaholyothin Center Bldg., 9th Fl. 404 Phaholyothin Rd., Phayathai, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. Please clearly indicate the sender's name and address and contact number (telephone or fax or email).

Terms of Reference for Independent Review

I. Introduction and Background

1. The Samut Prakarn Wastewater Management Project (the Project) in Thailand, which is being partly financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), aims to improve the environment in one of Thailand's most polluted provinces. It is designed to manage industrial, commercial, and residential wastewater that currently flows to the sea through open canals and rivers in a heavily populated area. The wastewater poses health hazards for up to a million people and pollutes large stretches of coastal waters in the Gulf of Thailand.

2. There was a provision in the Project design to undertake an interim review by independent experts to guide the executing agency during implementation. Therefore in September 1998, a technical design review, comprising four eminent practitioners in the field of wastewater management, was organized to cover all technical aspects of the Project. This review endorsed the overall design and provided some concrete recommendations for improvement which have since been complied with.

3. Following some concerns expressed by Thai academics, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) which is the Executing Agency for the Project, organized a technical hearing in August 1999, involving 22 Thai academics, to explain the Project design in detail and to provide a forum for concerns to be aired. The hearing concluded that a further review should be held. Accordingly, in October 1999, a second technical hearing was organized, comprising international experts and Thai academics to review the Project. The international experts endorsed the Project design, though some of the Thai academics expressed certain reservations. A community awareness and development program is now being undertaken separately to address all the social aspects of the Project, and the results of this exercise will be available to the IR team.

II. Objectives of the Review

4. The detailed design of the Project is now substantially complete and the construction work is in progress. The draft environmental management plan for the Project is also ready. At this stage when all key aspects of the Project are known, it seems appropriate and timely to undertake an independent review (IR) of it. This IR will be an independent indepth review of the Project, particularly its environmental, ecological and public health aspects,and will address the concerns expressed by the civil society on its impacts, including the potential odor generation and impact of that on the Klong Dan community, and also the impact on mussel farming as well as other revenue generating activities in the coastal areas likely to be affected by the Project. The expertise requirements have been determined in consultation with the Government of Thailand. The terms of reference presented herein have also been drawn up in consultation with the Government of Thailand, and they incorporate the comments of the stakeholders in the project area and nongovernmental organizations on an earlier draft, as appropriate.

III. Implementation of the Review

A. General

5. The review will be undertaken by three internationally recognized experts: an Environmental Specialist, an Aquatic Ecologist/Mussel Aquaculture Specialist, and a Public Health Specialist. The Environmental Specialist will be the Team Leader, through whom all other team members will coordinate and report. The team will work under the auspices of ADB and the Government of Thailand. The principal contact persons for the team will be the Director of Agriculture and Social Sectors Department (West) for ADB, and the Director General of PCD for the Government of Thailand.

6. Upon arrival in Bangkok, the team members will be fully briefed on the Project and provided with all necessary documentation. Within two weeks time, the team will study all relevant documents, carry out site visits, and prepare an approach and methodology as well as a work plan for conducting the review, including details of how and when the team will want to meet and interact with the various project stakeholders. Although all the team members may not be able to be in the field continuously for the full duration, it is expected that, as far as possible, they will work together in Thailand on the review, and a participatory workshop will be held by them towards the end of the review to present and discuss the team's findings. Any additional surveys, tests, etc. required in connection with the review will be arranged by the individual experts. The input of the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader will be about 8 weeks and that of the other two experts around 6 weeks. The total duration of the review, including all traveling time, may, however, extend up to 10 weeks in case the experts are not available to provide their inputs continuously without any break. The team will be provided with necessary technical as well as secretariat support staff, including Thai translators. The team will have access to all parties concerned including civil society groups, Government of Thailand, ADB and the affected people, and also to all relevant information.

7. The team will conduct its review with respect to the laws and regulations of Thailand. A draft final report in the English language giving the findings of the review will be made available to ADB and PCD within about eight weeks of the team's commencement of services. As part of the report, the team leader will prepare an overall assessment of the project, based on the findings of the individual experts. The draft report will be translated into the Thai language in parallel with its preparation to the extent possible, so that a Thai version of it will also be available within the following 3-4 days in Thailand. The final report of the review in English will be submitted to the ADB and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Thailand upon completion of the report. A Thai version of the final report will also be made available.

B. Expertise and Tasks to be Undertaken

8. The terms of reference (TOR) for the experts include, but are not limited to the tasks indicated below for each of them. If the need for additional surveys, collection of samples, tests, assessments of the survey and test results, and consultations with those who may be affected by the Project are identified during preparation of the IR, the experts will undertake such additional tasks. Further, the overall assessment of the Project by each of the experts will be consolidated and a matrix (see attachment) will be prepared by the Team indicating all concerns reviewed, problems identified, mitigation measures recommended, and the financial and operational feasibility of such mitigation measures.

1. Environmental Specialist/Team Leader

9. This individual will address the suitability of the collection system, the treatment plant, and outfall from the environmental point of view, with particular emphasis on the impact of the effluent discharging into the Gulf of Thailand, and the impact of any odor on adjacent communities, including Klong Dan. In addition, this individual will carry out a thorough review of the draft environmental management plan (EMP) prepared for the Project and will also serve as the Team Leader for the review and, as such, will be responsible for coordinating the work of all other team members and preparing the final report of the review. His/her task will include the following:

1. Review the collection system, and any measures designed to track hazardous materials, and review operational procedures for dealing with these chemicals at the treatment plant.
2. Review the treatment process in terms of available skill levels, flexibility of operation, current knowledge of wastewater characteristics, ability to accommodate future expansions, and the appropriateness of the interim sludge management plan.
3. Review the potential odor generation from the plant and the potential for the odor to have an impact on Klong Dan, and present the results in terms of a risk analysis.
4. Review and provide comments on the situation of heavy metal and hazardous chemical loadings into the coastal waters of Samut Prakarn with particular focus on Klong Dan.
5. Review the ability of the treatment plant to treat heavy metals and hazardous chemicals, and to cope with any emergency situations, such as accidental spills.
6. Review and assess the potential generation of aerosols, dispersions, and microbal and viral contents of the aerosols. Further, considering the land uses and community activities, assess the potential impacts of the aerosols and the organisms in them.
7. Undertake sensitivity studies of treatment plant operations, assuming no industrial pretreatment and full pretreatment, and assess the final loading into the coastal waters in terms of absolute loading and concentrations, and compare the assessments with Thai government standards.
8. In conjunction with the aquatic ecologist, review the capability of the treatment plant and outfall to meet the required discharge standards.
9. With the assistance of the other two team members, carry out a thorough review of the draft environmental management plan (EMP) prepared for the Project, including the following:
• Assess the integrity of the testing and modeling of the effluent flume dispersion carried out as part of the EMP.
• Review the integrity of the analysis and the proposed management measures.
• Comment on the adequacy of the proposed aquaculture exclusion zone around the marine outfall.
• Conduct interviews with all parties having some interest in the preparation of the EMP.
• Share views with Thai EMP reviewers.
• Make recommendations on how to improve EMP, as necessary.
x. Conduct/participate in a workshop to discuss/present the review findings.
10. Review and summarize the experiences on the above of other similar projects elsewhere in the world.
11. Based on the findings of the reviews mentioned above, the other individual experts, and any additional surveys, tests, and consultations with stakeholders conducted during the IR, carry out an overall assessment of the Project and indicate its impacts, along with recommendations for any mitigation measures.
12. With the assistance of the other two team members, prepare a final consolidated report on the review.

          2. Aquatic Ecologist/Mussel Aquaculture Specialist

10. This individual will particularly focus on the potential positive and adverse impacts of the Project on the natural ecosystem and coastal fisheries along the coastline of Samut Prakarn province, particularly the area around Klong Dan, and assess any impact on the livelihood of local fisherfolk and mussel farmers. He/she will carry out the following tasks:

1. Review the existing quality/aquatic productivity of the coastal environment in Samut Prakarn, with particular attention to current and past mussel and fish farming areas.
2. Review and evaluate the work carried out by the Pollution Control Department in terms of coastal/marine environmental monitoring and modeling, comment on its adequacy and make recommendations on further work, if any, to be done in this regard.
3. Assess the existing revenue generated from coastal aquatic farming activities.
4. Assess any impact (both beneficial and adverse) on the production, yield, and sustainability of fish/mussel farming as well as other revenue-generating aquatic activities in the coastal areas likely to be affected by the Project. Also assess the adequacy of the proposed aquaculture exclusion zone around the marine outfall.
5. Based on the above analyses and the findings of any additional surveys, tests, and consultations with stakeholders conducted during the IR, carry out an overall assessment of the Project and indicate its adverse impacts, if any, along with recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures.
6. Assist the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader in carrying out the review of EMP.
7. Assist the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader in conducting a workshop to discuss/present the review findings. Also participate in this workshop.
8. Review and summarize the experiences of other similar projects elsewhere in the world.
9. Assist the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader in preparing a final consolidated report on the review.

          3. Public Health Specialist

11. This individual will particularly focus on the potential positive and adverse impacts of the Project on public health in Samut Prakarn province, including Klong Dan. He/she will carry out the following tasks:

1. Examine both positive and negative health impacts in terms of intensity as well as extent, in both short- and long-term contexts.
2. Review the existing environmental health situation in and around Samut Prakarn and Klong Dan, and identify and assess any changes in environmental health risks that may result from the Project.
3. Examine the impacts of aerosols and their microbial and viral contents on the health of the local community near the treatment plant, as well as the impacts of organisms on food quality.
4. Assist the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader in carrying out the review of EMP.
5. Based on the above analyses and the findings of any additional surveys, tests, and consultations with stakeholders conducted during the IR, carry out an overall assessment of the Project and indicate its potential adverse impacts, if any, on the health of the people living in and around Samut Prakarn, particularly in the Project area, along with recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures.
6. Assist the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader in conducting a workshop to discuss/present the review findings. Also participate in this workshop.
7. Review and summarize the experiences of other similar projects elsewhere in the world.
8. Assist the Environmental Specialist/Team Leader in preparing a final consolidated report on the review.