SFG4042 V1 World Bank-financed Jiangxi Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project Jiangxi Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project Social Assessment Report Jiangxi PMO December 2017 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 SA TASKS ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 SA METHODS...................................................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 KEY CONCERNS.................................................................................................................................................. 6 2 SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE PROJECT AREA ............................................................................... 7 2.1 DEFINITION OF THE PROJECT AREA ................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILE ................................................................................................................................. 7 2.2.1 Geographic location ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.2.2 Economy................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.2.3 Population ................................................................................................................................................ 9 2.2.4 Ethnic minorities .................................................................................................................................... 10 3 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS ............................................................................................................... 13 3.1 STAKEHOLDER IDENTIFICATION........................................................................................................................ 13 3.1.1 Primary stakeholders ............................................................................................................................ 13 3.1.2 Secondary stakeholders....................................................................................................................... 14 3.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS..................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 KEY FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ........................................................................................................ 18 3.3.1 Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply ........................................................................................ 18 3.3.2 Rural Wastewater Management ................................................................................................................ 20 4 CURRENT SITUATION OF DOMESTIC WATER USE AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ................................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.1 CURRENT SITUATION OF DOMESTIC WATER USE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS .......................................................... 22 4.1.1 Different expectations for house connection to water supply ................................................................ 22 4.1.2 Varying water use scenarios of local residents ....................................................................................... 25 4.1.3 Water use difficulties facing local residents ............................................................................................. 26 4.1.4 Unclear perceptions of tap water among residents ................................................................................ 29 4.1.5 Risks in the existing tap water management mechanism ...................................................................... 30 4.2 CURRENT SITUATION OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS .................................................... 31 4.2.1Use of septic tanks and impact analysis.................................................................................................... 31 II 4.2.2 Domestic wastewater treatment and impact analysis ............................................................................ 32 4.2.3 Key findings in local domestic wastewater treatment ............................................................................. 34 5 SOCIAL IMPACT ANALYSIS .............................................................................................................................. 37 5.1 POSITIVE IMPACTS ........................................................................................................................................... 37 5.2 POTENTIAL RISKS ............................................................................................................................................. 38 5.3 SUGGESTIONS ON STABLE PROJECT OPERATION ............................................................................................ 44 6 POVERTY ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................................... 48 6.1 CURRENT POVERTY SITUATION ....................................................................................................................... 48 6.1.1 Jiangxi Province ........................................................................................................................................... 48 6.1.2 Project area .................................................................................................................................................. 48 6.2 CAUSES OF POVERTY ...................................................................................................................................... 50 6.3 LOCAL POVERTY ALLEVIATION MEASURES ....................................................................................................... 51 6.4 POOR POPULATION’S NEEDS FOR THE PROJECT............................................................................................. 52 6.5 IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT ON POOR POPULATION.......................................................................................... 53 7 WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY TO PAY ............................................................................................................. 55 7.1 W ILLINGNESS TO PAY ....................................................................................................................................... 55 7.1.1 Willingness to pay water charges .............................................................................................................. 55 7.1.2 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges .................................................................................. 60 7.2 ABILITY TO PAY ................................................................................................................................................. 63 7.2.1 Current situation of payment ...................................................................................................................... 63 7.2.2 Ability to pay analysis .................................................................................................................................. 64 8 SOCIAL GENDER ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................ 66 8.1 LOCAL FEMALE POPULATION ............................................................................................................................ 66 8.2 CURRENT SITUATION OF LOCAL WOMEN .......................................................................................................... 66 8.3 GENDER DIFFERENCE ANALYSIS ...................................................................................................................... 69 8.4 IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT ON WOMEN............................................................................................................ 71 8.4.1 Positive impacts ........................................................................................................................................... 71 8.4.2 Negative impacts ......................................................................................................................................... 72 9 SOCIAL ACTION PLAN AND IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................... 73 9.1 SOCIAL ACTION PLAN ...................................................................................................................................... 73 9.2 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN ........................................................................................................................... 77 III 10 GRIEVANCE REDRESS AND M&E .............................................................................................................. 81 10.1 GRIEVANCE REDRESS ..................................................................................................................................... 81 10.2 M&E ................................................................................................................................................................. 81 APPENDIX 1: PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT THE PROJECT PREPARATION STAGE ................................... 82 APPENDIX 2: SUMMARY OF FGDS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ENTITIES .............................. 89 APPENDIX 3: SUMMARY OF INTERVIEWEES ...................................................................................................... 90 APPENDIX 4: SA QUESTIONNAIRE FOR HOUSEHOLDS .................................................................................. 91 APPENDIX 5: LETTER OF PROJECT INFORMATION DISCLOSURE .............................................................. 96 List of Tables Table 1-1 Summary of project counties (districts) ..................................................................... 1 Table 1-2 Summary of FGDs ..................................................................................................... 3 Table 1-3 Summary of key informant interviews........................................................................ 4 Table 1-4 Distribution of samples .............................................................................................. 5 Table 1-5 Basic information of valid samples ............................................................................ 5 Table 2-1 Summary of key economic and social indicators of the project counties / districts (2015)(2015) 8 Table 2-2 Summary of key population of the project counties / districts (2015) ........................ 9 Table 2-3 Range of the project area in Nanfeng County, Jinxi County, Dongxiang District and Leping City 10 Table 3-1 Summary of direct beneficiary population ............................................................... 13 Table 3-2 Summary of population affected by LA.................................................................... 13 Table 3-3 Summary of public participation activities................................................................ 17 Table 3-4 Sources of local domestic water.............................................................................. 18 Table 3-5 Local residents’ support for the Project ................................................................... 19 Table 3-6 Distribution of periods of disuse of backup water sources during project implementation 19 Table 3-7 Public perceptions of Rural Wastewater Management in Xiushui County .............. 20 Table 4-1 Use of septic tanks and impact analysis.................................................................. 32 Table 4-2 Domestic wastewater treatment and impact analysis ............................................. 33 Table 4-3 Local residents’ willingness for sewer line connection ............................................ 35 Table 4-4 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by educational level ................. 36 Table 5-1 Perceptions of positive impacts of the Project......................................................... 37 Table 5-2 Statistics of population affected by permanent LA and temporary land occupation 39 Table 5-3 Statistics of affected small waterworks and employees .......................................... 40 Table 5-4 Perceptions of negative impacts of the Project ....................................................... 41 Table 5-5 Perceptions of potential impacts of the Project after completion............................. 41 Table 5-6 Analyais of impacts of water supply and drainage subcomponents at the operation stage 43 Table 5- 7 Summary of construction labor composition and types of work ............................. 43 Table 6-1 Distribution of local poor population ........................................................................ 49 Table 6-2 Local MLS................................................................................................................ 50 Table 6-3 Summary of one-to-one support by non-public enterprises in Leping City ............. 51 Table 7-1 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by educational level ................. 57 Table 7-2 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by age group (monthly) ............ 59 Table 7-3 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by gender (monthly) ................. 60 IV Table 7-4 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by household income.............................................................................................................................. 61 Table 7-5 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by educational level.................................................................................................................................. 61 Table 7-6 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by occupation 62 Table 7-7 Summary of local domestic water charges.............................................................. 63 Table 7-8 Ability to pay analysis of local ordinary and MLS residents ..................................... 64 Table 8-1 Basic information of local women (2015)................................................................. 66 Table 8-2 Distribution of samples by gender and educational level ........................................ 67 Table 8-3 Distribution of samples by gender and occupation.................................................. 67 Table 8-4 Project awareness of samples by gender ............................................................... 70 Table 8-5 Expectations for employment of samples................................................................ 70 Table 9-1Social Action Plan and Gender Action Plan.............................................................. 75 Table 9- 2 Public Participation Plan of the Project................................................................... 77 Table 9- 3 Public Participation Budget..................................................................................... 80 List of Figures Figure 1-1 Data collection (upper left: Xiushui County; upper right: Nanfeng County; lower left: Dongxiang District; lower right: Leping City) ........................................................................................ 3 Figure 1-2 FGD (left: Xiushui County; right: Leping City) .......................................................... 3 Figure 1-3 Key informant interviews .......................................................................................... 4 Figure 1-4 Questionnaire survey (upper left: Xiushui County; upper right: Jinxi County; lower left: Dongxiang District; lower right: Leping City) ........................................................................................ 5 Figure 1-5 Field investigation .................................................................................................... 6 Figure 2-1 Location map of the project counties (districts)........................................................ 7 Figure 3-1 Project information disclosure................................................................................ 15 Figure 3-2 Field investigation of the task force........................................................................ 15 Figure 3-3 FGD........................................................................................................................ 16 Figure 3-4 Key informant interviews ........................................................................................ 16 Figure 3-5 Questionnaire survey ............................................................................................. 17 Figure 3-6 Personal interviews ................................................................................................ 18 Figure 4-1 Rusty tap and water purifier in a home in Pingbu Village, Nanfeng County .......... 24 Figure 4-2 Open and pressure wells in use in Dongxiang District and Nanfeng County ........ 27 Figure 4-3 Open canal in Dongxiang District........................................................................... 29 Figure 4-4 Unregulated wastewater discharge........................................................................ 33 Figure 4-5 River pollution arising from unregulated waste disposal........................................ 34 Figure 5-1 Open canal and blind ditch for wastewater discharge ........................................... 38 Figure 5-2 Left: pipeline construction in Dongxiang District; right: pipeline excavation in Leping City 39 Figure 5-3 Water intake agreement between the Xiushui No.3 WWTP and the Dongjin Hydropower Station ......................................................................................................................................... 46 Figure 5- 4 Water supply compensation agreement of Leping City ........................................ 46 Figure 6-1 Dilapidated rural houses......................................................................................... 49 Figure 7-1 Willingness to pay extra water charges by project county (district) ....................... 55 Figure 7-2 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by project county (district) (monthly) 56 Figure 7-3 Willingness to pay extra water charges by household income .............................. 56 Figure 7-4 Willingness to pay extra water charges by educational level................................. 56 V Figure 7-5 Willingness to pay extra water charges by occupation .......................................... 57 Figure 7-6 Willingness to pay extra water charges by occupation (month)............................. 58 Figure 7-7 Willingness to pay extra water charges by age group ........................................... 58 Figure 7-8 Willingness to pay extra water charges by gender ................................................ 59 Figure 7-9 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County 60 Figure 7-10 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by age group ......................................................................................................................................... 62 Figure 7-11 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by gender 63 Figure 7-12 Receipts of water charges in Linchuan District.................................................... 64 Figure 8-1 Distribution of samples by gender / age................................................................. 66 Figure 8-2 Distribution of samples by gender / household head............................................. 68 Figure 8-3 Willingness to attend meetings related to the Project............................................ 68 Figure 8-4 Distribution of samples in Xiushui County by gender and role in wastewater treatment 70 Figure 10-1 Grievance Redress Flowchart.............................................................................. 81 VI ABBREVIATIONS FGD - Focus Group Discussion M&E - Monitoring and Evaluation MLS - Minimum Living Security PMO - Project Management Office RAP - Resettlement Action Plan SA - Social Assessment Units Currency unit = Yuan (RMB) US$1.00 = RMB6.33 1 hectare = 15 mu VII 1 Introduction 1.1 Background of the Project China has a large population, in which agricultural population accounts for 50.32% (6th national census). However, safe drinking water is not available to a large population of China. The Chinese government proposed water resources reform and development as a priority in 2011 for the first time, and state leaders also lay particular stress on the importance of drinking water safety, especially in rural areas. Wastewater management is closely associated with drinking water safety, because if rural wastewater is not collected and treated effectively, the water environment will be polluted directly. For this reason, it is proposed in the 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020) of China that the issues of rural drinking water safety and water pollution control are addressed by improving infrastructure and management. The 13th Five-year Plan of Jiangxi Province proposes to build a strong modern agricultural province. Since drinking water safety and a healthy water environment are prerequisites to sustainable agriculture, the plan also proposes rural water supply and wastewater management as priorities, and province-level poverty alleviation measures. The plan proposes that tap water supply will cover about 90% of the province’s agricultural population, county-level wastewater treatment rate will reach 85%, and substantial improvement in wastewater treatment (current water quality is below Class V or worse) in rural areas below the county level will be realized by 2020. In order to help fulfill this goal, the Jiangxi Provincial Government has applied for a loan with the World Bank to implement the Jiangxi Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project (hereinafter, the “Project”). 7 counties (districts) have been identified for the Project based on: 1) the urgency of the realistic demand for urban and rural water supply and wastewater treatment; 2) the willingness of the local government to participate in the Project, and its commitment to constructing the Project, offering counterpart funds, conducting operation and maintenance at the operation stage, and providing financial subsidies for rural water price; and 3) the cooperative relationship with Jiangxi Water Resources Investment Group. These 7 counties (districts) are Yongxin County, Ji’an City; Linchuan District, Dongxiang District, Jinxi County and Nanfeng County, Fuzhou City; Xiushui County, Jiujiang City; and Leping City, Jingdezhen City. See Table 1-1. Table 1-1 Summary of project counties (districts) Province Prefecture-level city County / district Ji’an Yongxin County Linchuan District Dongxiang District Fuzhou Jiangxi Jinxi County Nanfeng County Jiujiang Xiushui County Jingdezhen Leping City (county level) The project design is demand-oriented, and based on local medium- and long-term development plans to explore patterns and management mechanisms for integrated urban and rural water supply, and rural wastewater management. In the Project, engineering and non-engineering measures will be taken to improve local integrated urban and rural water supply capacity by constructing waterworks, reconstructing and extending water supply networks, etc., and to improve local rural wastewater treatment capacity by constructing wastewater treatment facilities and sewer 1 lines, etc. 1.2 SA tasks This SA aims to learn different stakeholders’ expectations and needs, and identify the Project’s positive and negative impacts through fieldwork, thereby helping the owner take a series of measures to ensure the extensive and fair participation of stakeholders, and maximize the Project’s benefits. Therefore, the main objectives of this SA are: 1) Identifying primary stakeholders, and learning their interests and needs through extensive participation; 2) Learning the Project’s potential social impacts, including positive and negative impacts, and potential social risks; 3) Learning attitudes of women, poor population, etc. to the Project, and identifying the Project’s impacts on them; 4) Strengthening public participation, giving advice on optimizing the project design, and establishing information disclosure and grievance redress mechanisms; 5) Developing social and gender action plans to evade project risks and realize the project objectives; and 6) Developing a participation plan for beneficiaries, so that urban and rural residents are aware of and participate in the Project as much as possible. In addition, project awareness among the public will be increased and public participation promoted through project information communication, experience sharing, etc. during public consultation. 1.3 SA methods The task force conducted fieldwork in the 7 counties (districts) with the support of the Jiangxi PMO (Jiangxi Water Resources Investment Group) and local PMOs from December 22, 2016 to May 29, 2017. 1) Organizational interview and data collection Organizational interviews were conducted with the PMOs, owners and agencies concerned of the 7 counties (districts), and relevant basic data and literatures collected. 2 Figure 1-1 Data collection (upper left: Xiushui County; upper right: Nanfeng County; lower left: Dongxiang District; lower right: Leping City) 2) FGD FGDs were held to learn local residents’ needs for the Project, the Project’s impacts on them, and their comments and suggestions. Figure 1-2 FGD (left: Xiushui County; right: Leping City) 41 FGDs were held in the 7 counties (districts), with 574 participants in total, including 164 women, accounting for 28.6%; 82 vulnerable people, accounting for 14.3%; 123 old people, accounting for 21.4%, and 205 village committee and villager representatives, accounting for 35.7%. See Table 1-2. Table 1-2 Summary of FGDs Number of participants Number County / district Old Vulnerable Village committee of FGDs Women Total people people and villager reps. Xiushui County 7 28 21 14 35 98 Nanfeng County 4 16 12 8 20 56 Yongxin County 9 36 27 18 45 126 Linchuan District 1 4 3 2 5 14 Jinxi County 3 12 9 6 15 42 Dongxiang District 7 28 21 14 35 98 Leping City 10 40 30 20 50 140 Total 41 164 123 82 205 574 3) Key informant interview Key informant interviews were conducted at the county (district), township (sub-district) and 3 village (community) levels to provide inputs into project design and implementation, including heads of county (district) agencies concerned, such as land and resources bureau, construction bureau, water resources bureau, women’s federation, poverty reduction office, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, poverty reduction bureau, and water supply company, as well as village (community) officials. Figure 1-3 Key informant interviews 184 key informants were interviewed in total, including 31 in Xiushui County, accounting for 16.8%; 23 in Nanfeng County, accounting for 12.5%; 30 in Yongxin County, accounting for 16.3%; 20 in Linchuan District, accounting for 10.9%; 26 in Jinxi County, accounting for 14.1%; 32 in Dongxiang District, accounting for 17.4%; and 22 in Leping City, accounting for 12.0%. See Table 1-3. Table 1-3 Summary of key informant interviews County / district Village officials Heads of government agencies Total Xiushui County 6 25 31 Nanfeng County 3 20 23 Yongxin County 9 21 30 Linchuan District 1 19 20 Jinxi County 3 23 26 Dongxiang District 6 26 32 Leping City 8 14 22 Total 36 148 184 4) Questionnaire survey The task force conducted a questionnaire survey, with 340 copies distributed and 323 valid copies recovered, with a validity rate of 95.0%, including 38 copies in Xiushui County, 43 copies in Nanfeng County, 51 copies in Yongxin County, 72 copies in Jinxi County, 55 copies in Dongxiang District, 53 copies in Leping City and 11 copies in Linchuan District. 4 Figure 1-4 Questionnaire survey (upper left: Xiushui County; upper right: Jinxi County; lower left: Dongxiang District; lower right: Leping City) See Table 1-4 for the distribution of the samples of the questionnaire survey. Table 1-4 Distribution of samples County / district Number of copies Percent (%) Xiushui County 38 11.8 Nanfeng County 43 13.3 Yongxin County 51 15.8 Linchuan District 72 22.3 Jinxi County 55 17.0 Dongxiang District 53 16.4 Leping City 11 3.4 Total 323 100 The questionnaire database was established and analyzed using the IBM SPSS software. See Table 1-5. Table 1-5 Basic information of valid samples Indicator Values Gender Male, 54.8%; female 45.2% 18-28 years, 6.8%, 29-40 years, 26.3%, 41-65 years, 52.3%, 65 years or Age above, 14.6% Urban/rural Rural, 87.6%; urban, 12.4% Household head Yes, 45.2%; no, 54.8% Illiterate, 14.9%; primary school, 29.7%; junior high school, 38.7%; senior high Educational level school/secondary technical school, 13.3%; junior college or above, 3.4% Occupation Civil servant, 2.5%; worker of public institution, 0.9%; worker of enterprise, 5 2.8%; self-employer, 15.2%; freelancer, 8.0%; unemployed, 0.3%; retiree, 1.5%; farmer, 56.7%; migrant worker, 8.4%; other, 3.7% 5) Field investigation The task force conducted a field investigation on the sites of the proposed waterworks, pump stations and pipelines in the 7 counties (districts) for a more practical and objective understanding. Figure 1-5 Field investigation 1.4 Key concerns This SA has the following key concerns: 1) Identifying primary stakeholders, and learning their attitudes to and needs for the Project; 2) Identifying the Project’s potential social impacts; 3) Analyzing the Project’s impacts on poor population, especially their willingness and ability to pay; 4) Analyzing the Project’s impacts on women and their needs for the Project; 5) Learning information disclosure and public participation, including the APs’ awareness of, support for and participation in the Project; 6) Including social factors in the project design, and proposing measures to evade or reduce negative impacts; and 7) Developing a participation plan for beneficiaries, so that urban and rural residents are aware of and participate in the Project as much as possible. 6 2 Socioeconomic Profile of the Project Area 2.1 Definition of the project area The project area includes Yongxin County, Ji’an City; Linchuan District, Dongxiang District, Jinxi County and Nanfeng County, Fuzhou City; Xiushui County, Jiujiang City; and Leping City, Jingdezhen City. See Figure 2-1. Figure 2-1 Location map of the project counties (districts) 2.2 Socioeconomic profile 2.2.1 Geographic location Jiangxi Province is located in southeastern China, between north latitude 24°7′-29°9′ and east longitude 114°02′-118°28′, close to central China, south of the middle and lower Yangtze River, bordering Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces on the east, Guangdong Province on the south, Hunan Province on the west, and Hubei and Anhui Provinces on the north, and close to central cities like Wuhan, Nanjing and Shanghai. Jiangxi has a land area of 166,900 km2, and governs 11 prefecture-level cities, and 100 counties (county-level cities / districts). The provincial capital is 7 Nanchang. The Project covers 7 counties (districts), namely Xiushui County, Nanfeng County, Yongxin County, Linchuan District, Jinxi County, Dongxiang District and Leping City. Xiushui County is located in northwestern Jiangxi, at the junction of Jiangxi, Hubei and Hunan Provinces, with a land area of 4,505 km², being the county with the largest land area in Jiangxi. Nanfeng County is located in eastern Jiangxi, and is a well-known orange producing area, boasting convenient traffic, and an advantaged geographic location. Yongxin County is located in central western Jiangxi, between east longitude 113°50′-114°29′ and north latitude 26°47′-27°14′, with a land area of 2,195 km², 318 km away from Nanchang City and 99 km away from Ji’an City. Linchuan District is located in eastern Jiangxi and the middle Fuhe River, between east longitude 116°04′-116°39′ and north latitude 27°31-28°14′. Jinxi County is located in eastern Jiangxi and the middle Fuhe River, with a land area of 1,358 km². Dongxiang District is located in northeastern Jiangxi, being the north gate of Fuzhou City, between east longitude 116°20′-116°51′ and north latitude 28°02′-28°30′, with a land area of 1,275 km². Leping City is located in northeastern Jiangxi and the middle Le’an River, between east longitude 113°53′36″-117°32′40″ and north latitude 28°42′14″-29°13′14″, enjoying convenient traffic and boasting a beautiful landscape. 2.2.2 Economy Among the 7 counties (districts), Linchuan District has the highest GDP of 34.16 billion yuan, and Yongxin County has the lowest GDP of 8.45 billion yuan. The average annual income of urban residents of the project area is higher than that of rural residents in the project area. The average annual income of urban residents of Linchuan District (30,530 yuan) and Leping City (26,785 yuan) is higher than the provincial average, and the average annual income of rural residents of Nanfeng County (17,147 yuan), Linchuan District (13,925 yuan), Jinxi County (11,582 yuan) and Leping City (12,729 yuan) is higher than the provincial average. Leping City has the highest fiscal revenue of 3.7 billion yuan, and Yongxin County has the lowest fiscal revenue of 1 billion yuan. Generally, the 7 counties (districts) are highly representative of local social and economic development. See Table 2-1. Table 2-1 Summary of key economic and social indicators of the project counties / districts (2015) Income of Income of Fiscal Percentage GDP (00 Land area urban rural revenue to provincial Division 2 million (km ) residents residents (00 million fiscal yuan) (yuan) (yuan) yuan) revenue (%) Xiushui County 4504 22224 7599 130.2 23.2 0.8 Nanfeng County 1913 25513 17147 105.4 11.7 0.4 Yongxin County 2195 19517 7587 84.5 10.0 0.3 Linchuan District 2121 30530 13925 341.6 21.1 0.7 Jinxi County 1358 23914 11582 72.2 10.1 0.3 Dongxiang District 1267.5 19324.7 9495.2 97.9 14.7 0.5 Leping City 1980 26785 12729 265.1 37.0 1.2 Jiangxi Province 167,000 26500 11139 16723.8 3021.5 / Source: county (district) statistical yearbooks or national economic and social development reports 8 2.2.3 Population According to the Statistical Report 2015 on National Economic and Social Development of Jiangxi Province, at the end of 2015, Jiangxi Province had a registered population of 12.668 households with 45.656 million people, including a male population of 23.437 million, accounting for 51.3%; a female population of 22.219 million, accounting for 48.7%, a male-female ratio of 105.5:100, an agricultural population of 22.089 million, accounting for 48.4%; a nonagricultural population of 23.568 million, accounting for 51.6%, and a population density of 273.6/km2. At the end of 2015, Xiushui County had a registered population of 236,000 households with 871,000 people, including a male population of 455,000, accounting for 52.2%; a female population of 416,000, accounting for 47.8%, a male-female ratio of 109.4:100, an agricultural population of 769,000, accounting for 88.3%; a nonagricultural population of 102,000, accounting for 11.7%, and a population density of 193.3/km2. Nanfeng County had a registered population of 96,000 households with 313,000, including a male population of 165,000, accounting for 52.7%; a female population of 148,000, accounting for 47.3%, a male-female ratio of 111.5:100, an agricultural population of 253,000, accounting for 80.8%; a nonagricultural population of 60,000, accounting for 19.2%, and a population density of 163.6/km2. Yongxin County had a registered population of 527,800; an agricultural population of 289,000, accounting for 54.7%; a nonagricultural population of 239,000, accounting for 45.3%, and a population density of 240.5/km2. Linchuan District had a registered population of 1.211 million, including a male population of 646,000, accounting for 53.3%; a female population of 565,000, accounting for 46.7%, a male-female ratio of 114.3:100, an agricultural population of 709,000, accounting for 58.5%; a nonagricultural population of 502,000, accounting for 41.5%, and a population density of 570.9/km2. Jinxi County had a registered population of 301,000, including a male population of 156,000, accounting for 51.8%; a female population of 145,000, accounting for 48.2%, a male-female ratio of 107.6:100, an agricultural population of 191,000, accounting for 63.5%; a nonagricultural population of 110,000, accounting for 36.5%, and a population density of 221.6/km2. Dongxiang District had a registered population of 447,000, including a male population of 233,000, accounting for 52.1%; a female population of 214,000, accounting for 47.9%, a male-female ratio of 108.9:100, an agricultural population of 237,000, accounting for 53.0%; a nonagricultural population of 210,000, accounting for 47.0%, and a population density of 352.7/km2. Leping City had a registered population of 275,000 households with 932,000, including a male population of 499,000, accounting for 53.5%; a female population of 432,000, accounting for 46.5%, a male-female ratio of 115.5:100, an agricultural population of 618,000, accounting for 66.3%; a nonagricultural population of 314,000, accounting for 33.7%, and a population density of 470.7/km2. See Table 2-2. Table 2-2 Summary of key population of the project counties / districts (2015) Jiangxi Xiushui Nanfeng Yongxin Linchuan Jinxi Dongxiang Leping Indicator Province County County County District County District City Number of households (0,000) 1266.9 23.6 9.6 18.86 40.7 10.3 15.3 27.5 Population (0,000) 4565.6 87.1 31.3 52.46 121.1 30.12 44.7 93.2 Males (0,000) 2343.7 45.5 16.5 27.50 64.6 15.6 23.3 49.9 Females (0,000) 2221,9 41.6 14.8 24.95 56.5 14.5 21.4 43.2 2 Population density (/km ) 273.6 193.3 163.6 240.5 570.9 221.6 352.7 470.7 Agricultural population (0,000) 2208.9 76.9 25.3 43.21 70.9 19.19 23.7 61.8 9 2.2.4 Ethnic minorities Jiangxi is a province in which minority residents are scattered in all counties, cities and districts. According to the 6th national census, there are 54 ethnic minorities in Jiangxi, with a total population of 152,000, accounting for 0.34% of Jiangxi’s population. 13 ethnic minorities have a population of over 1,000, including She, Hui, Mongolian, Miao and Manchu. Jiangxi has 8 minority Xiangs, 82 minority administrative villages and over 400 minority village groups. In recent years, the development of minority areas in Jiangxi has been accelerated under a new pattern in order to maintain social stability. The Regulations of Jiangxi Province for the Protection of Rights and Interests of Ethnic Minorities, and the Guidelines for Accelerating the Economic and Social Development of Minority Areas have been promulgated to provide legal support. Among the 7 counties (districts), minority settlements are scattered in Nanfeng County, Jinxi County, Dongxiang District and Leping City, namely Jinxian She Village in Shishan Town, Nanfeng County; Lanjia She Group of Taiping Village and Chunjian Group of Heyuan Village in Xiaohuang Town, Jinxi County; Zhangyuanlanjia She Group of Shanbi Village, Dongxiang District; and Yaochong Yao Village in Leping City. In view of this, the task force identified minority impacts in the 7 counties (districts) carefully with the assistance of the local PMOs. According to the survey: 1) The minority population in the project area is scattered, mostly being She, Hui, Mongolian, Miao and Manchu people entering the project area for marriage and work. However, this minority population is very small, and they have no fixed community, no common language and no common culture, and show no difference from the mainstream ethnic group of Han in terms of social welfare, rights, protection, cultural customs and lifestyle. In addition, local minority residents enjoy the same public services as the Han people. 2) The scattered minority settlements in 4 project counties (districts) (Jinxian She Village in Shishan Town, Nanfeng County; Lanjia She Group of Taiping Village and Chunjian Group of Heyuan Village in Xiaohuang Town, Jinxi County; Zhangyuanlanjia She Group of Shanbi Village, Dongxiang District; and Yaochong Yao Village in Leping City) are not within the project area. 3) No minority population will be affected by LA and HD for the Project. Minority residents will benefit from the Project indirectly other than directly, and the Project will have almost no negative impact on them. Therefore, no ethnic minority development plan will be developed for the Project. See Table 2-3. Table 2-3 Range of the project area in Nanfeng County, Jinxi County, Dongxiang District and Leping City County / Subcomponent Township Villages / groups district Shishan Town Water Shishan, Xicun, Meixi, Guanzhuang, Guantang, Pingbu, Shishan Town Supply Guanchao, Luoxi, Cuiyun, Baofang “Jinxian She Nanfeng Qiawan Town Water Qiawan, Shangdian, Jiangkeng, Changling, Xiping, Qiawan Town Village” not County Supply Taoyuan, Jiajin in the range Laixi Xiang Water Laixi, Yangmeikeng, Xishan, Jiulian Laixi Xiang Supply Shuangtang Market town, Duitang, Guanbian, Bolin, Zhuqiao, Wushi “Lanjia She No.2 WWTP Pipeline Town Group of Extension Heshi Town Chonglu, Xiaogong, Tiannan Taiping Jinxi Huangtong Xiang Huangtong Hewan, Dunhou, Huangtong, Zengjia, Guanwang, Village and County Water Supply Xiang Gaoqiao Chunjian Chenfangji Xiang Chenfangji Chenfang, Chenghu, Tufang, Gaoping, Xiqiao, Hefang, Group of Water Supply Xiang, Liuli Tangxia, Huangyuan, Yinshan, Shangzhuang, Pingtang, Heyuan 10 Xiang, Heshi Tuoshan, Runhu, Dongyuan, Dujia, Liuli, Bei’an, Xintang, Village” not Market Town Pujie, Dageng, Qiling, Heshi, Hufang, Boyuan, Aotang, in the range Hujie, Lianqiao, Tangxia, Gongjia, Chemen, Hangqiao, Pingshang, Chonglu Zuishangqiao, Nanfang, Fangjiatan, Lihong, Bijia, Linli, Jiedu Town Shangkengkou, Qianwu, Zhongjia, Zhongjiashan, Weili, Extension of Urban Luodu, Pancun, Hubin, Dongfan, Jiangjia, Liwu, Qianwu Pipelines to Nearby Hougang Hutang, Panxi, Xingaoqiao, Xichong, Guanjiang, Yifang, Townships Town Hengyuan Forest Farm, Jiangluo, Guankou, Chengjia Legang Town Tarui, Houfan, Xiazhu Mingkou Town Lankeng, Daicun, Shangsi, Wuyiqiao Gaojia Town Niaoshu, Cangtian, Dongjia Farm, Zhuangquan, Muli Lijusi Branch Farm, Yangshangang Branch Farm, Pipeline Extension of Hongyan Xiaokeng Forest Farm, Tealeaf Branch Farm, Forestry Xingfu Waterworks Town Institute, Aquatic Farm, Hucun, Xiabu Segment, Gengxin Forest Farm, Hongluo, Wujia Luci Xiang Longkou Pipeline Extension of Luci Xiang Xianao (Nanxia), Yangtaishan Branch Farm Dongfanghong Zhongbu Huangtielu, Tongshan, Tongpo, Yejia, Fangshan, Waterworks Town Shanglianzui, Zhongbu Diaozhong, Kengpan, Kuqian, Jinshan, Dunshang, Zhenqiao “Yaochong Pipeline Extension of Yangfan, Baile, Shenxi, Kengkou, Caijia, Le’an, Xinle, Leping Town Yao Village” Zhenqiao Waterworks Dajia, Sunjia, Zhenyuan, Tanghu, Xujia, Gutang City not in the Legang Town Kuichen, Yangjia, Zhangjia, Jiangwan, Qianjiang range Pipeline Extension of Dayuan, Caijia, Shiming, Zhaixia Wukou Town Wukou Waterworks Pipeline Extension of Yongshan, Lintou, Houtian, Donggang, Liucha, Yongshan Yongshan Zhujiachong, Chexi, Minkou, Licun, Shaotian, Hengtang, Town Waterworks Guankou, Hengshan Pipeline Extension of Zhongbao, Xiabao, Silian, Xiashi Lingang Town Lingang Waterworks Liqiao, Dunjian, Shiping, Zhanghang, Tongjia, Pipeline Extension of Zhongbu Youchashan, Wuqiu, Mengqiao, Wenshan, Gongshu, Zhongbu Waterworks Town Nanjieshou, Hedong, Henan, Gaoqiao, Lehua Manganese Mine, beside Leyi Highway, Wantou Pipeline Extension of Shiligang Nangang, Fengyuan, Huyang, Sanfang, Baita, Jiaoyuan, Nangang Waterworks Town Wangwu Pipeline Extension for Laowu, Qianbao, Biatu, Xinzhuang, Baitufeng Forest Linli Waterworks Farm, Chaijia, Maqiao, Puli, Gantang, Xincheng, Sunjie, Lilin Town Reconstruction / Chenfan, Fuqian Expansion Dongxiang Urban Pipeline Beizhuang Dongmenli, Tangli, Hejia “Zhangyuanl District Extension Dabu Raojia, Linjia, Dabu anjia She Yousheng Jiangjia, Dongteng Industrial Park Group of Bogan Jieshanghujia, Panshanghujia Shanbi Bogan Xiang Liantang Liantang, Hongjia, Zhantou Village” not Shanghaolijia, Baojia, Huangjia, Yisiqiao, in the range Xianji Xianji, Shijiatang, Houyuan Bicun Bicun Xiaohuang Fenglin Guantang, Xigangshang, Tangjia, Dengjia Town Guangtang Fanli, Guangchang, Guangtang Xiaoheng Kuxia, Fanshang Chagangshang, Shangzou, Lujia, Donglu, Lujia Xirao Feiquan Jiangxia Chenli, Shangbi, Xiangxing, Xiaojiang, Shanbi Yatang Xiangyuanli, Sunjiadun, Lingshang, Wujia, Sunzhen Shanglongmen, Xialongmen Gudun Shanggudun, Gudun, Pengjia 11 Xiahu Hubian, Qiaobian Weijia, Zongyifang, Hujiazhuang, Yanghu Hugangzui, Liyuan Houxi Houxi, Wanggukeng, Tuqiao Weishangqiao Donggang Dianqian, Xufang, Lintang Town and Youlutou Youlutou Hongxing Chenjie Tangxia, Dunshangchen, Zhujia Farm Hejia Xiahe, Jiufang, Zhongyao, Guantang Dongyuan Shangyu, Xiayu, Dongyuan Qiangui Qiangui, Shanxiahou Shuinan Shuinan Yuxi Yuxi, Huangwan Pingtang Pingtangbu Xinle Xinle, Xiaojiazhuang Gangshangji Duanxi Guanjia Town and Qinghu Qinghu Hongxing Hongqi Hetang Farm Lilangzhong, Houbian, Shangtang, Houbian Houjiafang Zhengjia Zhengjia, Xiachen, Tangxiachengjia (Hongxing Farm) Shangli Xialijia Yangguang Xiazou, Shangzou, Fengshuxia, Jiejia Chenqiao Tangxiachengjia, Xiaxie Huwei Xiang Chentang Shiqiao Dongjia Dongjia Junling Junling Hengyuan Banqiao, Hengyuan, Xiachantang Lingxia Dengjia Xiang Jifang Guwei Meifangzui, Guanqiao, Qian’an, Chantang Dengjia Dianbei Songhu Guwei, Weijia, Huangjia Shangyang Shangyang, Yangjia, Zhongyang Yaoshang Yaoshang, Zhushanxia, Minyuan Xinhefang, Nanbian, Taqian, Chenjia, Xiaogang Nanbian Yangquanxi, Caojia Town Zhangfang Houdun, Qianfang, Daping Pingli Youlutou It can be seen that since the minority settlements in 4 project counties (districts) are not within the project area, the Project will have almost no negative impact on minority residents. 12 3 Public Participation Process 3.1 Stakeholder identification Stakeholders refer to individuals or groups that can affect or be affected by the realization of the project objectives. Stakeholders can be divided into primary and secondary stakeholders. Primary stakeholders of the Project include: local residents, including direct beneficiaries and those affected negatively by the Project, and secondary stakeholders include the owners, design agency, construction agencies, supervising agencies and government agencies concerned. 3.1.1 Primary stakeholders Primary stakeholders of the Project include direct beneficiaries and those affected negatively by the Project. 1) Direct beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries of the Project are 2,992,357 urban and rural residents in the 534 villages or groups in 47 townships and one farm (Hongxing) in the 7 counties (districts) served by Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply, and urban and rural residents within the range of Rural Wastewater Management (Zhajin Town, Xiushui County). See Table 3-1. Table 3-1 Summary of direct beneficiary population Yongxin Linchuan Dongxiang Nanfeng Jinxi Leping Xiushui No. Indicator Total County District District County County City County Direct beneficiary 1 2992357 319684 326700 447900 247969 257795 859600 532709 population Female population 1497052 163740 171500 214067 127008 135342 402300 283095 Poor population 40132 4889 1566 6968 2315 3994 14901 5499 Urban population 1623426 180000 240000 287100 200000 150000 273800 292526 Rural population 1347131 139684 86700 160800 47969 107795 564000 240183 Additional water supply 2 3 248000 50000 50000 40000 0 3000 55000 50000 capacity (m /d) 3 Urban (m /d) 240000 50000 50000 40000 0 0 50000 50000 3 Rural (m /d) 8000 0 0 0 0 3000 5000 0 2) Those affected negatively by the Project: mainly including 343 households with 1,294 persons affected by permanent LA, and 554 households with 2,052 persons affected by temporary land occupation, also including local vulnerable groups Table 3-2 Summary of population affected by LA Yongxin Linchuan Dongxiang Jinxi Nanfeng Xiushui Leping No. Type of impact Subtotal County District District County County County City Permanent LA (mu) 108.8 79.18 91 4.4 0 2 0 285.38 1 Cultivated Where: 0 0 91 4.4 0 2 0 97.4 land Permanent occupation of 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 state-owned land (mu) Temporary Collective 176.4 3 67.6 52 50.28 90.6 360.06 799.94 land State- 3 8.5 58.1 42.1 1.3 7.03 0 71.61 188.64 occupation owned (mu) Subtotal 184.9 61.1 109.7 53.3 57.31 90.6 431.67 988.58 Permanently HH 17 275 42 3 0 6 0 343 4 affected Person 74 973 197 15 0 35 0 1294 Temporarily HH 138 2 52 80 39 158 85 554 5 affected Person 599 6 169 326 99 574 279 2052 13 Collective Collective Collective 4.4 mu of 50 mu of 10 mu of Former woodland woodland cultivated irrigated land, land land site, acquired acquired land affecting 3 acquired acquired expansion, acquired households in 2012 involving with 15 no LA 6 Remarks persons, and 16 mu of non- contracted woodland acquired 3.1.2 Secondary stakeholders Secondary stakeholders include the owners, design agency, construction agencies, supervising agencies and government agencies concerned. 1) PMOs: The Jiangxi Project Leading Group has been established by the Jiangxi Provincial Water Resources Department, and the Jiangxi PMO established at Jiangxi Water Resources Investment Group for project leadership, management, implementation and supervision. Local project leading groups and PMOs have been established in the 7 counties (districts), responsible for local project implementation. 2) Owners: responsible for project construction, operation, maintenance and coordination 3) Government agencies concerned: including local land and resources bureaus, water resources bureaus, development and reform bureaus, environmental protection bureaus, women’s federations, civil affairs bureaus, poverty reduction offices, township governments, village committees, etc. In addition, secondary stakeholders also include the design agency, construction agencies, etc. 3.2 Public participation process Since the beginning of project preparation 2016, the Jiangxi and local PMOs have organized a series of public participation and consultation activities. At the preparation stage, the feasibility study agency, SA agency, RAP preparation agency and environmental impact assessment agency conducted information disclosure, public participation and consultation. 1) Information disclosure A) From the pre-identification stage in 2016, the local PMOs, township governments and village committees have disclosed project information and the village selection criteria by means of meeting, notice, brochure, banner, etc. B) From June 2016, the local PMOs have disclosed project information to local residents, and collected their attitudes and comments. C) From December 2016 to May 2017, the RAP preparation agency conducted a sampling socioeconomic survey, disclosed project information, and conducted consultation. D) From December 2016 to May 2017, the task force conducted collected comments and suggestions on the Project from local residents by means of questionnaire survey, personal interview and FGD. From 2016 to date, the Jiangxi and local PMOs have released the Project’s latest information online many times. See Figure 3-1. 14 Figure 3-1 Project information disclosure 2) Field investigation The task force conducted a field investigation on the sites of the proposed waterworks, pump stations and pipelines in the 7 counties (districts) for a more practical and objective understanding. It also learned local residents’ economic and social conditions, ability and willingness to pay, key concerns, and expectations for resettlement and compensation, and communicated the relevant policies and preliminary resettlement programs. Figure 3-2 Field investigation of the task force 3) FGD In order to learn needs and suggestions of local residents (including urban and rural residents, women, and vulnerable groups), the task force held 41 FGDs in the 7 counties (districts), covering ability and willingness to pay, water use and difficulties, domestic wastewater treatment, etc., involving 574 participants in total, including 164 women, accounting for 28.6%; 82 vulnerable people, accounting for 14.3%; 123 old people, accounting for 21.4%, and 205 village committee and villager representatives, accounting for 35.7%. 15 Figure 3-3 FGD 4) Key informant interview Key informant interviews were conducted at the county (district), township (sub-district) and village (community) levels to provide inputs into project design and implementation, including heads of county (district) agencies concerned, such as land and resources bureau, construction bureau, water resources bureau, women’s federation, poverty reduction office, ethnic and religious affairs bureau, poverty reduction bureau, and water supply company, as well as village (community) officials. 184 key informants were interviewed in total, including 31 in Xiushui County, accounting for 16.8%; 23 in Nanfeng County, accounting for 12.5%; 30 in Yongxin County, accounting for 16.3%; 20 in Linchuan District, accounting for 10.9%; 26 in Jinxi County, accounting for 14.1%; 32 in Dongxiang District, accounting for 17.4%; and 22 in Leping City, accounting for 12.0%. Figure 3-4 Key informant interviews 5) Questionnaire survey The task force also conducted a questionnaire survey and personal interviews in the 7 counties 16 (districts). Figure 3-5 Questionnaire survey In the questionnaire survey, 340 copies were distributed and 323 valid copies recovered, with a validity rate of 95.0%, including 38 copies in Xiushui County, 43 copies in Nanfeng County, 51 copies in Yongxin County, 72 copies in Jinxi County, 55 copies in Dongxiang District, 53 copies in Leping City and 11 copies in Linchuan District. Table 3-3 Summary of public participation activities Type Date Venue Key points Participants Information disclosure PMOs, township Affected 2016 Survey on village selection governments, village villages committees, APs Information Information disclosure, and PMOs, owners, township disclosure Affected Jun. 2016 collection of attitudes and and village officials, APs, villages comments feasibility study agency 2016 Websites Latest project information PMOs, APs Dec. 23, 2016 – Sampling socioeconomic PMOs, owners, RAP Jan. 16, 2017 Affected survey preparation agency Mar. – May villages 2017 Collecting local residents’ PMOs, owners, SA Field Dec. 23, 2016 – Affected comments and suggestions by agency investigati Jan. 16, 2017 villages field investigation, on Mar. 5-29, 2017 questionnaire, interview, etc. Consultation on project SA agency Dec. 23, 2016 – Proposed preparation, and collection of Jan. 16, 2017 sites suggestions on project Mar. 5-29, 2017 optimization Dec. 23, 2016 – Affected 340 copies distributed and 323 APs, SA agency Questionna Jan. 16, 2017 villages, valid copies recovered (54.8 % ire survey Mar. 5-29, 2017 homes male and 45.2 % female) 41 FGDs held with 574 APs, SA agency participants in total, including Dec. 23, 2016 – Affected 164 women, 82 vulnerable FGD Jan. 16, 2017 villages people, 123 old people and Mar. 5-29, 2017 205 village committee and villager representatives Agencies 184 key informants interviewed Government officials, SA Key Dec. 23, 2016 – concerned, in total agency informant Jan. 16, 2017 affected interview Mar. 5-29, 2017 villages 17 See Appendixes 1 and 2 for details of public participation activities. 3.3 Key findings of public participation 3.3.1 Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply 1) Project awareness is low. According to the survey, 84.5% of the respondents are aware of the Project, showing that local residents’ awareness of the Project has risen somewhat. The main information source is the village committee, accounting for 48.8%; followed by others, accounting for 18.6%. Through interviews and FGDs, the task force has found that project awareness among government officials has risen to some extent, but that among villagers or even village officials is still inadequate. Based on the questionnaire survey, indicating that project publicity and public participation should be further strengthened. Figure 3-6 Personal interviews 2) Local residents use well and tap water mainly, and their satisfaction with tap water is low. In daily life, 66.6% of the respondents use well water, 23.5% use tap water, 5.3% use river water, 1.9% use bottled water and 2.8% use other water. Among those using tap water, only 27.9% are satisfied with the current situation of tap water use (6.4% very satisfied and 21.5% satisfied), 31.5% dissatisfied, 33.5% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 7.1% not clear. Among the causes of dissatisfaction, bad water quality accounts for 51.9%, unstable supply for 38.0%, not clear for 5.8% and other for 4.3%. Table 3-4 Sources of local domestic water Indicator Tap Well Lake / river Bottled Other County (district) water water water water Xiushui Frequency 13 10 10 2 3 County Percent (%) 34.2 26.3 26.3 5.2 7.9 Nanfeng Frequency 15 24 4 / / County Percent (%) 34.9 55.8 9.3 / / Yongxin Frequency 11 31 2 5 2 County Percent (%) 21.6 60.8 3.9 9.8 3.9 Linchuan Frequency 6 2 / / 3 District Percent (%) 54.5 18.2 / / 27.3 Jinxi Frequency 13 57 1 / 1 County Percent (%) 18.1 79.2 1.4 / 1.4 18 Dongxiang Frequency 11 44 / / / District Percent (%) 20.0 80.0 / / / Leping Frequency 7 46 / / / City Percent (%) 13.2 86.8 / / / 3) Local residents generally support the Project; self-owned water sources will be replaced by tap water gradually. 86.7% of the respondents support the Project. In villages not or not fully covered by tap water supply, villagers use well, spring, lake or river water in daily life mainly. In such villages, domestic wastewater is discharged directly into lakes or rivers, or permeates into groundwater without treatment, resulting in water pollution, and threatening the safety of drinking water, so villagers expect the Project to be implemented as early as possible. Table 3-5 Local residents’ support for the Project Support for the Project Frequency Percent Valid Percent Cumulative Percent Supporting 280 86.7 87.0 87.0 Not 20 6.2 6.2 93.2 Valid supporting Not clear 22 6.8 6.8 100.0 Total 322 99.7 100.0 Missing System 1 .3 Total 323 100.0 If tap water is available, 91.9% of the respondents will stop using well or other water, in which 78.9% will stop using within 5 years, and 30.9% within 1-2 years. Some respondents say that since tap water will be paid for, they will retain self-owned water sources as a supplement or temporary alternative (when tap water supply is insufficient or unavailable). Local residents will use tap water for the following purposes: drinking and cooking, 54.1%, daily washing, 19.4%, cleaning, 15.3%, livestock and poultry, 6.8%, and other, 4.4%. Table 3-6 Distribution of periods of disuse of backup water sources during project implementation Sample size Sample Valid Cumulative Period size percent (%) percent (%) 1-2 years 100 30.9 30.9 2-3 years 47 14.6 45.5 4-5 years (%) 108 33.4 78.9 5 years or more (%) 42 13 91.9 Total 297 91.9 / Note: The valid sample size is 323. 4) Needs for project participation Local residents’ participation in project construction, operation and maintenance is a main form of public participation during project implementation. It will enhance their environmental awareness, and increase their personal income. According to the questionnaire survey, 73.7% of the respondents are willing to do jobs during project construction, operation and maintenance, such as material transport, repair and cleaning, and only 13.2% are unwilling. For those unwilling, some already have stable jobs with considerable 19 income, and some are too old to work. 13.2% of the respondents will decide if they will do such jobs as the case may be. Interview 3-1: Mr. Rao, Donggang Village, Weishangqiao Town, Dongxiang District (42 years) I’m willing to work if the worksite is close to the village. Most rural people can do such jobs. A reward is of course preferred. 3.3.2 Rural Wastewater Management Based on communication with the local PMOs and owners, the only rural wastewater treatment facility under the Project identified to date is located in Zhajin Town, Xiushui County. 1) Local residents are highly enthusiastic about participating in project construction, and have a strong sense of responsibility. 92.1% of the respondents say that nearby residents are obligated to participate in the routine operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment systems after project completion. If a reward is offered, 86.8% of the respondents are willing to participate. When asked “How will wastewater treatment systems be operated and maintained after completion?”, 65.8% of the respondents think such systems should be operated and maintained by the village, 34.2% think such systems should be operated and maintained by a specialized company engaged by the government. Those choosing the former option think that local villagers are more familiar with village conditions, care more about village affairs, and can solve problems more quickly. Those choosing the latter option think that villagers lack expertise and skills for operation and maintenance. Interview 3-2: Mr. Xie, Yangkeng Village, Shankou Town, Xiushui County (42 years) The Project will treat our domestic wastewater centrally and make our village environment better. We will protect the environment actively after its completion. 2) Local residents are highly willing to change habits after project completion, and their potential environmental awareness becomes stronger. When asked “Are you willing to change your habits after project completion?”, 89.5% of the respondents are very willing, and 7.9% are willing, totaling 97.4%, while only 2.6% are somewhat unwilling. If local residents are willing to change their habits, they will change in the following ways first: bathing often, 28.9%, using flush toilets, 63.2%, using less chemical detergents, 2.6%, and not throwing litter into ditches and sewers, 5.3%. Table 3-7 Public perceptions of Rural Wastewater Management in Xiushui County Perception Percent (%) Are local residents obligated to Yes 92.1 participate in wastewater treatment No 5.3 system operation and maintenance? Not clear 2.6 If a certain reward is offered, are you Yes 86.8 willing to participate in system No 7.9 operation and maintenance? Don’t know 5.3 How will wastewater treatment By village 65.8 20 By specialized company 34.2 Other 0 Very willing 89.5 Are you willing to change your habits Willing 7.9 after project completion? Somewhat unwilling 2.6 Bathing often 28.9 Using flush toilets 63.2 If you are willing to change your Using less chemical detergents 2.6 habits, how? Not throwing litter into ditches 5.3 and sewers 21 4 Current Situation of Domestic Water Use and Wastewater Treatment of Local Residents 4.1 Current situation of domestic water use of local residents 4.1.1 Different expectations for house connection to water supply 1) Different groups of a single village have different drinking water sources, and different levels of willingness for tap water house connection. In some parts of the project area (e.g., Hengxi Village, Longyuankou Town, Yongxin County; Xunyi Village, Zhengcun Xiang, Xiushui County; Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County), different groups of a single village have different drinking water sources for historical reasons, and residents have significant differences in water quality perception. Village groups in which residents think water quality to be better are less willing for tap water house connection, while those in which residents think water quality to be worse are more willing for tap water house connection. For example, Xunyi Village, Zhengcun Xiang, Xiushui County (with two village groups) affected by water supply pipeline extension is not covered by tap water supply yet. The water source of one group is well water (Group A), while that the other group spring water (Group B). There is a conventionally established covenant in water source allocation between them. Since the tank and delivery pipeline for spring water are funded and owned by Group B, villagers of Group A have no right to use it. However, well water is shared by both groups. Villagers of Group B usually use spring water, and would use well water only when spring water is in tight supply (serious drought). They are unwilling to use well water because it is of bad quality. Interview 4-1: Mr. Li, Xunyi Village, Zhengcun Xiang, Xiushui County (50 years) Well water is somewhat dirty, but we can do nothing about this. We are all willing to use tap water, but preferably not too expensive. Shouldn’t the money be borne by the government? Interview 4-2: Ms Liang, Xunyi Village, Zhengcun Xiang, Xiushui County (53 years) We always use spring water from the mountain, and do not need tap water. If rainfall is insufficient, we will close the value to avoid any waste. The supply facility is funded by the whole group, and is shared among us for free. Our spring water is not shared with Group A. We use their well water only when we have no other choice. Villagers of Group A are much more willing for house connection than those of Group B due to the differences in water source and quality. Villagers of Group A using poor quality well water are strongly willing, while those of Group B using high quality spring water are less willing. Villagers of Group A prefer lower or even no charges, and think that this money should be borne by the government. On the other hand, some residents in Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County will move into a new area where infrastructure and public service facilities (water, electricity, roads, etc.) are already completed, so their willingness for house connection is weak. The water supply network in the new area is funded by local residents, averaging over 2,000 yuan per household. 2) Willingness for tap water house connection depends on well depth and service length. Villagers who have dug deep wells (mostly put into use around 2000, 20m or more below the ground, costing about 6,000 yuan each) have weak willingness for tap water house connection 22 because the amount of well water can meet their daily demand, and water quality is better. Those who have dug shallow wells (5-10m below the ground, costing 500 yuan or less) have strong willingness due to unstable well water supply, especially in the dry season, and water quality is worse. Interview 4-3: Ms Wang, Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County (46 years) My family’s well is shallow for construction and geological reasons, and sometimes water is unavailable. Interview 4-4: Ms Hong, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (40 years) Tap water is of poor quality and often unavailable, so my family has to pump groundwater for cooking, drinking, etc. However, groundwater is also of poor quality, and drinking is now a problem. Moreover, my family is not entitled to social security. 3) Rural residents are less willing to pay water charges, and would follow others in tap water connection. Local rural residents have been using self-owned water sources for a long time, and do not have the habit of paying for domestic water. The concept of “free water supply” is prevalent among them, reducing their willingness to pay for water. Due to the long-term use of self-owned water sources (wells, springs, etc.), local residents have developed their own habits, and such water sources are in good condition (though not necessarily meeting the safe drinking water standard) most of the time. The head of the Lilin Waterworks in Leping City says that water supply involves certain costs, and the non-collection of water charges will affect the waterworks’ operation and development. A waterworks usually supplies water for free for a certain period at the beginning, such as for the first 81 tons, and would then collect water charges at 1.23 yuan/ton. He says that they would strengthen publicity to change villagers’ perception that tap water is of poor quality and unsafe, and increase house connection rate. In addition, local rural residents would consult with and follow other villagers for tap water house connection and water rate. Interview 4-5: villager, Shangzhang Group of Chenfang Village, Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County I cannot decide if tap water is connected or not alone, and this depends on all villagers. I’m willing to get connected as long as others are. 4) Concerns about water purchase and tap water quality coexist in areas with poor water quality. In local villages where spring water is unavailable or unclean, residents would buy water from other villages, but such water is relatively expensive, and difficult to transport and store. Those buying water are mostly relatively richer villagers, while poorer villagers can only drink unclean spring water, and have stronger willingness for tap water house connection. However, in some villagers in the project area (e.g., Shankou Town, Xiushui County and Pingbu Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County), “tap water” has already been installed (privately funded waterworks that supply simply treated reservoir or river water), but villagers are dissatisfied with the quality and amount of such water, and have to install purifiers in their houses. Such water is often out of supply, especially during holidays, and has a smell of disinfectants, so villagers worry about its quality and safety. 23 Figure 4-1 Rusty tap and water purifier in a home in Pingbu Village, Nanfeng County 5) There is an urban-rural gap in tap water supply and payment. Rural residents expect the same quality of tap water as urban residents, but they prefer lower water rates than urban residents, because they think that there is already an income gap between urban and rural residents, and cheaper tap water can benefit more rural residents. In China’s urban-rural dualistic structure, rural residents have contributed tremendous human, material and financial resources to urban construction and development, so they think that it is time for urban areas to pay back to rural areas, which should be reflected in water rates. This is because rural residents’ income is much lower than that of urban residents, and a lower water rate will reduce their expenditure and financial burden, and allow them to share economic and social development. On the other hand, the treatment of rural domestic wastewater and waste is not included in urban systems, so rural residents should not bear wastewater treatment charges included in the water rate, which is also an embodiment of social fairness and justness. 6) Willingness to use water depends on age, where young people are more willing than old people. There is significant “age stratification” in willingness to use tap water among rural residents. Young people aged 35 years or below, especially those with children, generally welcome tap water supply, and prefer using tap water, because they long for urban life, most of them have the experience of working in town, and have felt the convenience of urban water supply, and those with children know the importance of safe drinking water for their children’s health. Middle-aged aged 36-60 years (their children are mostly adults) are mostly waiting and seeing. Most of them don’t care about tap water connection for economic reasons mainly. Old people aged above 60 years are mostly used to the current situation, and barely willing for tap water connection, especially in the context of serious rural population aging. In the 7 counties (districts), many rural residents are working outside to make a living, leaving children and old people at home, and some even are working outside with their children. 7) Poor residents are faced with difficulty in tap water connection and water charge payment. Local poor households have varying levels of poverty, and can be divided into ordinary poor households, MLS households and five-guarantee households. Local rural residents think that more attention should be paid to the ability to pay water charges of poor households, because though water charges are acceptable for most households, tap water connection cost and subsequent 24 water charges may be considerable for local poor households. Many poor residents have expressed their unwillingness for tap water connection when hearing that they have to pay connection cost and subsequent water charges, because they cannot afford such expenses. In the local context of targeted poverty reduction, an important consideration under the Project is to develop preferential measures for them specially so that they can share the project benefits. 4.1.2 Varying water use scenarios of local residents 1) Non-local tenants and local villagers have an identity difference in using domestic water. Long-term tenants who rent town or rural storefronts to do business would use more bottled water than local villagers. Local villagers can use spring water for drinking or well water as domestic water, while non-local tenants can only use well water on a compensated basis or are even prohibited from using spring water. Interview 4-6: Mr. Han, Shishan Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County (37 years) This storefront is rented at quite a high price per annum. My family does not use well water in this village, and would buy several bottles of purified water every month. That’s not quite expensive. 2) Existing pattern of mixed water use: “well water + river water” or “bottled water + well water + river water”. In some parts of the project area (Lilin Town, Leping City; Shishan Town, Nanfeng County; Longyuankou Town, Yongxin County; Daqiao Town, Xiushui County, etc.), local rural residents usually use well water + river water together in daily life, where well water is usually used for cooking, drinking, food washing, etc., while river water usually used for irrigation, clothes washing, house and courtyard cleaning, etc. Some local residents (e.g., Shankou Town, Xiushui County and Wenzhu Town, Yongxin County) use bottled water + well water + river water together, because they think that well water is not very clean, and would use bottled water for cooking and drinking. Local residents have their own clear logics of water use. Interview 4-7: Ms Zou, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (48 years) Most well water here is of good quality, but water of my family’s well is not good, so my family drinks bottled water, bought at 8 yuan per bottle, with 3-4 bottles used per month. Well water is used for clothes washing, chicken feeding, etc. In Dongxiang District, rural domestic water includes well water and bottled water, where well water is used for clothes and food washing, toilet flushing, etc., while bottled water for direct drinking. Most residents are satisfied with the quality of their own well water, but some residents think that their well water is polluted by wastewater arising from solid waste scouring or septic tank drainage, and has excessive sulfur levels from a nearby copper works. Interview 4-8: Ms Wang, Xialonggang Group of Zhangfang Village, Xiaogang Town, 25 Dongxiang District (33 years) My family is not connected to tap water yet, and uses well water and bottled water. Well water was good in the past, but has been of poor quality since the copper works moved here, and is not good to our health. We expect the copper works to be relocated. 3) New pattern of mixed water use: “tap water + well water” or “tap water + well water + other water” Among those who support tap water supply, most of them prefer continuing to use well water and other self-owned water sources (spring water, river water, etc.) during the transition period after tap water connection (see Table 3-3). This is an upgraded version of the existing pattern of mixed water use, where water for eating and drinking is now tap water instead of well water / spring water, while water for clothes washing, house cleaning, etc. is now well water / spring water instead of river water. For example, in Qiaoyang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City where tap water supply is available for a free trial period, residents are still using well water under the new pattern of mixed water use of “tap water + well water”. Interview 4-9: Ms Fan, Yangqiao Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (43 years) Tap water was available in our village not long ago. We would drink tap water in daily life, but use well water for clothes washing, etc. Although tap water is now supplied for free, it will be charged in the future. For purposes not requiring high water quality, well water is okay. 4) Rural residents use “deep well water” at the cost of pumping electricity charges only. Most wells used by local rural residents are electrically pumped, and they use “deep well water” by paying for electricity charges (about 0.6 yuan/kWh) only. Local rural residents think that such electricity charges are reasonable and acceptable, but tap water is relatively more expensive. This may affect their willingness to pay, and the fixation of the future water rate. Interview 4-10: Ms Xu, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (38 years) We pay for electricity at about 0.6 yuan/kWh only and do not pay for water. That’s quite cheap. If tap water is more expensive than well water, we will use less or no tap water. 4.1.3 Water use difficulties facing local residents 1) The amount of well water cannot meet daily water demand. The use of well water in local rural areas is very prevalent, where well water is pumped manually or electrically. Most rural households have their own wells, rough 6-10 meters deep. If every household in the same village or group has a well, the same groundwater source is shared by multiple users, so that the amount of well water cannot meet daily water demand, which is especially true in the dry season. When well water is insufficient, some villagers have to carry spring 26 water back home, thereby increasing costs of water use and posing drinking water safety to risks, because spring water tanks are uncovered and have no purification facility, likely to result in water pollution. Interview 4-11: Mr. Chen, Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County (35 years) Some families in our village use manually pumped wells, and some use electrically pumped wells. Those using electrically pumped wells have to pay electricity charges. Almost every family has a well, and well water is sometimes not enough. 2) Well and spring water (including bottled water) is unsecure in quality and insufficient in quantity as a domestic water source. The most common daily domestic water source of local rural residents is well water, and few households use bottled water or spring water. Bottled water and spring water is usually used for eating and drinking, while well water is mostly used for clothes and food washing. Drinking water is separated from domestic water, because well water is polluted by nearby non-enclosed septic tanks, so villagers think that well water is of bad quality and unhealthy. Figure 4-2 Open and pressure wells in use in Dongxiang District and Nanfeng County Villagers in Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County say that their main daily domestic water source is spring water. However, the quality of local spring water is unsecure and unstable, sometimes clear and sometimes turbid. Villagers generally think that high-quality and stable tap water is good as their regular domestic water source. Interview 4-12: Ms Zhao, Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County (38 years) My family uses spring water from the mountain. It tastes good and is of good quality most of the time. However, it is insufficient in the dry season. 3) The water quality of daily domestic water sources is substandard, threatening 27 drinking water safety. Rural residents in the Yongxin County town and nearby areas are generally unwilling to use tap water, and wish to use bottled water, because supplied tap water is of bad quality, and may be actually river water or spring water. There is a mine near the water source, where wastewater may be discharged directly into the river, resulting in excessive heavy metals. In the long run, such water will affect physical health greatly. In addition, rural water supply pipelines are not specially maintained. As a result, many residents have been found to suffer from related diseases, mostly in the late stage. According to interviews in Shashi Town, Yongxin County, current tap water is from a nearby river, with a piggery beside, which would pollute the river, especially in summer. Villagers strongly insist that such river should not be used as the source of tap water. Interview 4-13: Mr. Li, Luoxi Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County (49 years) There is a piggery here, which worsens the surrounding environment, and makes river water quality very bad. Sometimes, it throws pig bodies into the river. In addition, for technical and financial reasons, most rural septic tanks are “soil pits” without brick lining and cement grouting. They worry that water from septic tanks may permeate through soil into well water, thereby affecting the quality of well water. Interview 4-14: Mr. Li, Yongxin County (50 years) In our rural areas, unlike cities, most tap water pipelines are not specially maintained, and water quality is not regularly tested. Water pollution is unknown to us. It is said that many people have been found to suffer from related diseases, mostly in the late stage. Rural residents who use well water as domestic water think that well water is yellow in color, and some residents who use tap water are dissatisfied with its quality (odor and yellow turbidity) and supply (Shankou Town, Xiushui County). Most rural residents use shallow well water, and some even use river water. In general, residents expect highly of tap water quality improvement, and support the Project strongly. Interview 4-15: villager, market town of Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County My family uses tap water, but it looks yellow, contains some purities and sometimes emits odor. It is unsuitable for cooking. It is often out of supply, when we have to take water from other families’ wells, which is inconvenient. Domestic waste littering is very serious in Dongxiang District, resulting in surface water pollution due to rain scouring. There is an non-enclosed septic tank in almost every family, causing 28 groundwater pollution due to permeation. For this reason, local residents are very concerned about drinking water safety. Figure 4-3 Open canal in Dongxiang District Linchuan District, a cradle of gifted scholars, is close to the urban area of Fuzhou City. The project area here is not covered by tap water supply yet, and is subject to serious groundwater pollution. In Lyufang Village, Shangdundu Town, some adults and children would go to the urban area for work or study in the daytime, and would return home at night. Although old people are not strongly eager for tap water, they still expect tap water supply as soon as possible in consideration of their children’s health and the convenience of use. Interview 4-16: Xu XX, Lyufang Village, Shangdundu Town, Linchuan District (68 years) As you see, all those playing here are old people. We do not want tap water, and do not care much about water cleanliness. However, our children and grandchildren often return home, and expect to use convenient tap water. 4.1.4 Unclear perceptions of tap water among residents 1) There are still vague perceptions about the concept of “tap water”. Spring water used by local rural residents is often connected to houses via pipelines, and is also called “tap water” by local residents. However, this is not what people (especially urban residents) normally think of to be tap water. The task force has found that tap water supplied by the new waterworks constructed under the Project meets the national drinking water standard, and differs from “spring tap water” in a narrow sense perceived by local rural residents. However, due to inadequate publicity and public participation, local rural residents mistake tap water supplied under the Project for “spring tap water” used by them, and are thereby somewhat unwilling to support the Project. This is reflected in the following: A) Old people who are relatively conservative about water use generally think that spring water is cleaner than tap water; B) Some local residents confuse tap water with water from other sources, and do not believe in the quality of tap water. Villagers in Shangzhang Village generally think that the big well dug last year in the village is a water supply 29 work, and that that’s what “tap water” should be like; C) Most families have open-air wells, and water is pumped via pipelines into houses, so local residents regard this water as tap water, and think that their houses are already connected to tap water; and D) Most villagers lack trust in quality inspection reports. Interview 4-17: Mr. Zheng, Meixi Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County (60 years) Tap water? My family has tap water, too, which comes from the river over there via the water pipe. There is a purifying facility in the village. 2) Local residents have the stereotype of bad tap water quality, and are likely to be inimical to it. Some local residents have a stereotype about tap water that it is added with chemicals during purification, and is therefore unclean. Such stereotype comes mainly from the dissemination of misleading information on TV, Web, etc., and rumors and panics arising from incidents like tap water pollution. In addition, some residents still think that new waterworks still use unclean water sources of former private waterworks. Interview 4-18: Ms He, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (44 years) Is tap water added with chemicals as people say on TV? If so, I will not use it. Its quality is not assured, because it is always added with something, and not as reliable as well water. 3) Local residents still worry about the feasibility and maintenance of the Project. Some residents are skeptical about the feasibility of the Project, because they think that the Project has such a large scale that it is unlikely to be completed quickly and household by household. In addition, they also have doubt about the quality and maintenance of tap water pipelines, and worry that the Project cannot operate sustainably after its completion. Interview 4-19: villager, Shangzhang Group of Chenfang Village, Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County Using tap water seems convenient, but I have also heard from other villagers that the tap water facility would be damaged soon and left unrepaired. In this case, we will finally have to use well water. 4.1.5 Risks in the existing tap water management mechanism 1) Appeal, supervision and management mechanisms for drinking water use are unsound. Residents can hardly find a suitable channel to file their appeals about water quality, supply, facility failure, etc., and receive effective feedback and response. This is attributed to inadequate supervision over drinking water use in the project area more or less. Some residents are just making do with domestic water, because they say that appeals are useless at all. Interview 4-20: Mr. Chen, Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County (55 years) Is there any problem with this tap water, just like being added with some filtering agent as 30 people say on TV? We have no way to file an appeal, and even the village committee is not responsible for this. 2) Government credibility is challenged locally. Local residents generally think that tap water supply should be a duty of the government. However, due to consecutive tap water pollution events in recent years throughout the country, the public has developed the stereotype that tap water is unsafe. For this reason, local residents have little trust in tap water supply projects. The challenge to government credibility is reflected not only in the Project, but also in other projects, such as groundwater and well water pollution, and major diseases of nearby residents caused by chemical production projects in the industrial park of Leping City. Local residents think that the government should be held liable for this. Interview 4-21: Mr. Zou, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (39 years) We expect the government to supply tap water of good quality to us. As TV reports, in some places, officials and entrepreneurs collude to supply tap water of bad quality to the public to seek profits. We don’t care about water charges, but do care about water quality and quantity. 3) Outstanding issues of private waterworks affect local residents’ trust in the Project. There was a private waterworks (Yuquan Waterworks) in Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County. According to local residents, this waterworks is criticized by poor water quality, disorderly registration and unregulated charge collection. After reporting by local residents, the government has closed down this waterworks, and taken over water supply, but pipelines often burst and have to be repaired by the government. Such outstanding issues have affected local residents’ trust in new projects. In addition, a small waterworks was built in Laixi Village, Laixi Xiang 7-8 years ago, but it has not been put into operation since its completion. Villagers think that this is a great waste of resources. There was a private waterworks in Lilin Town, Leping City, which was closed down due to bad water quality. After its closedown, its supply network has been mostly damaged by villagers and is no longer usable. Such past events make villagers distrust water supply projects, and reduce their willingness to pay. Interview 4-22: Head of the Lilin Waterworks, Lilin Town, Leping City The outstanding issue from that waterworks is troublesome, not only reducing villagers’ enthusiasm, but also making our work more difficult. As you can see, pipes exposed on the road are former pipes, and have been damaged by villagers. We are also working on this to change villagers’ attitude to tap water supply. 4.2 Current situation of wastewater treatment of local residents 4.2.1Use of septic tanks and impact analysis In Zhajin Town, Xiushui County, 97.4% of households have an indoor private toilet. Among those with an indoor private toilet, 81.6% have a septic tank for feces treatment. Among those with a septic tank, 48.4% have a septic tank below the ground out of the house, 41.9% have a septic tank below the house, and 9.7% have a septic tank below the toilet. Septic tanks below the house are not tightly sealed, contain many pathogenic bacteria, emit harmful gases, and are adverse people’s health. 79.4% of residents think it necessary to alter the indoor wastewater pipeline to drain dung 31 water. 57.9% of the respondents think that the public septic tank in the village / community will have adverse impacts, 31.6% think that it will not, and 10.5% are not clear. Among those who think that the public septic tank will have adverse impacts, 26.4% choose dung water overflow due to the lack of cleanup 26.4%, 26.4% choose strong odor, 22.2% choose giving rise to mosquitoes and flies, and spreading diseases, 11.1% choose polluting rivers, and 13.9% choose polluting groundwater. When asked how to alter the septic tank, 80.6% choose unified construction by a construction agency engaged by the village committee, 5.6% choose self-construction with supplied materials, and 13.9% choose self-construction with supplied funds. Table 4-1 Use of septic tanks and impact analysis Perception Percent (%) Indoor private toilet 97.4 What is your family’s toilet? Outdoor private toilet 2.6 Public toilet 0 Yes 81.6 If it is a private toilet, does it No 18.4 have a septic tank? Not clear 0 Below the ground out of the house 9.7 Where is the septic tank? Below the house 41.9 Below the toilet 48.4 Is it necessary to alter the Necessary 79.4 indoor wastewater pipeline Not quite necessary or unnecessary 20.6 to drain dung water? Yes 57.9 Will the public septic tank No 31.6 affect residents negatively? Not clear 10.5 Dung water overflow due to the lack of cleanup 26.4 Strong odor 26.4 Which negative impacts are Giving rise to mosquitoes and flies, and spreading diseases 22.2 there? polluting rivers 11.1 polluting groundwater 13.9 Unified construction by a construction agency engaged by the 80.6 How to alter the septic village committee tank? Self-construction with supplied materials 5.6 Self-construction with supplied funds 13.9% 4.2.2 Domestic wastewater treatment and impact analysis As to domestic wastewater treatment, 39.5% choose pouring out of the door; 13.2% choose pouring into the toilet, and 47.4% choose draining into the river through ditch or pipe collection. As to who disposes of domestic wastewater often, 71.1% of the respondents choose young woman, 21.1% choose old woman, and 7.9% choose young man. As to satisfaction with local wastewater treatment, 7.9% of the respondents are satisfied, 34.2% neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 57.9% dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. As for difficulty in wastewater treatment, 39.3% of the respondents choose lack of sound wastewater treatment system, 27.0% choose low public environmental awareness, 21.3% choose lack of effective regulation, and 12.4% choose inadequate publicity. 32 Figure 4-4 Unregulated wastewater discharge As to domestic wastewater impact, 37.6% choose emitting bad odor and affecting life, 34.1% choose giving rise to mosquitoes and flies, and affecting health, 17.6% choose polluting soil and waters, 8.2% choose affecting crop growth, and 2.4% don’t know. As to the necessity to collect and treat domestic wastewater, 86.8% choose very necessary or necessary, and 13.1% choose not quite necessary or unnecessary. In interviews, local residents expressed their dissatisfaction with local sanitary conditions, especially with domestic wastewater treatment. This shows that local residents have strong demand for wastewater treatment projects. Table 4-2 Domestic wastewater treatment and impact analysis Perception Percent (%) How is domestic Pouring out of the door 39.5 wastewater disposed Pouring into the toilet 13.2 of? Draining into the river through ditch or pipe collection 47.4 Young woman 71.1 Which member of your Young man 7.9 family disposes of Old woman 21.1 domestic wastewater Old man 0 most often? Child 0 Satisfied 7.9 Are you satisfied with Neither, nor 34.2 the current situation of Dissatisfied 47.4 wastewater treatment? Very dissatisfied 10.5 Lack of sound wastewater treatment system 39.3 Which difficulties are Low public environmental awareness 27.0 there in wastewater Lack of effective regulation 21.3 treatment? Inadequate publicity 12.4 Emitting bad odor and affecting life 37.6 What negative impacts Giving rise to mosquitoes and flies, and affecting health 34.1 does the current Polluting soil and waters 17.6 situation of wastewater Affecting crop growth 8.2 treatment have? Don’t know 2.4 Very necessary 44.7 Is it necessary to Necessary 42.1 collect and treat Not quite necessary 7.9 domestic wastewater? Unnecessary 5.2 33 4.2.3 Key findings in local domestic wastewater treatment 1) Domestic wastewater is discharged without regulation. Domestic wastewater is mostly poured directly out of the door without special treatment. Wastewater can be seen to flow over, emit odor, and give rise to mosquitoes and flies, which will affect local residents’ physical health and well-being, and worsen the local living environment in the long run. Interview 4-23: Mr. Zhou, Zhajin Village, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County (54 years) Pouring wastewater out of the door will have little impact, because everyone does this and this has been done for many years. This has become a rural practice. Wastewater is often drained by villagers directly into rivers without treatment, leading to river pollution and safety concerns. Figure 4-5 River pollution arising from unregulated waste disposal 2) Self-built wastewater drainage facilities are substation without centralized collection and treatment. Septic tank outlets and some domestic wastewater sewers are very likely to be blocked, resulting in difficulty in wastewater discharge. Pipelines to which they are connected are often uncovered and open, and emit strong odor. In addition, such pipelines do not have any wastewater treatment terminal, and simply drain wastewater to low-lying pits and ponds, thereby possibly affecting nearby vegetable fields. Interview 4-24: Ms Li, Tianxi Village, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County (47 years) My family has a septic tank, just out of the house. It has no odor or overflow, except in summer. There is no special facility for feces and wastewater treatment in the village, and we just drain them into the river or let them flow into soil naturally. 34 In Zhajin Town, environmental pollution is reflected mainly in wastewater treatment, where drain ditches are mostly open, and wastewater often permeates to roadsides and fields, expanding the range of pollution. Once such ditches are blocked, wastewater will overflow into roadsides and fields. In general, there is no regular sewer network in most villages, making it possible to treat domestic wastewater effectively. Interview 4-25: Ms Zhang, self-employer, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County (36 years) Our village is very dirty, with much wastewater and solid waste, mostly in drain ditches. They would be flushed away only when there is a heavy rain. They make water odorous, and give rise to mosquitoes and flies in summer. 3) Villagers are very eager for centralized domestic wastewater treatment. Villagers think that the unregulated discharge of domestic wastewater will cause environmental pollution, and affect roads and the living environment significantly, as can be reflected in the fact that 75.9% of the respondents are willing for sewer line connection. In view of frequent blocking, villagers are strongly willing for centralized domestic wastewater collection and treatment. Table 4-3 Local residents’ willingness for sewer line connection Willingness for sewer line connection Cumulative Frequency Percent Valid Percent Percent Willing 85 26.3 75.9 75.9 Unwilling 23 7.1 20.5 96.4 Valid Don’t know 4 1.2 3.6 100.0 Total 112 34.7 100.0 Missing System 211 65.3 Total 323 100.0 Interview 4-26: Mr. Chen, Daqiao Village, Daqiao Town, Xiushui County (43 years) It does not matter to pour wastewater on the ground, because it will dry soon and can reduce dust. Sometimes, we pour wastewater into the sewer, which is smelly in summer. 4) Willingness to pay relates to amount paid, distance from the urban area and educational level. A) Among the 54 samples who are willing to pay wastewater treatment charges, 70.4% are willing to pay 100 yuan or less, and 22.22% willing to pay willing to pay 101-300 yuan, totaling 92.6%; 3.7% are willing to pay 301-500 yuan, 1.9% willing to pay 501-800 yuan, and 1.9% willing to pay over 1,000 yuan, totaling 7.6%. It can be seen that amount paid is inversely proportional to willing to pay. B) Willingness for wastewater treatment facility construction is inversely proportional to distance from the urban area, because those living close to the urban area think that their land may be acquired in the future and is more valuable, and wastewater treatment facility construction will affect land price to some extent. C) Willingness for wastewater treatment facility construction is somewhat directly proportional to educational level, because villagers with higher educational levels can realize the severity of wastewater pollution, and support wastewater treatment facility 35 construction more strongly. Table 4-4 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by educational level Amount willing to be paid Valid Cumulative Frequency Percent Percent Percent >1,000 yuan 1 .3 1.9 1.9 501-800 yuan 1 .3 1.9 3.7 301-500 yuan 2 .6 3.7 7.4 Valid 101-300 yuan 12 3.7 22.2 29.6 100 yuan or less 38 11.8 70.4 100.0 Total 54 16.7 100.0 Missing System 269 83.3 Total 323 100.0 5) Township- and village-level public finance can hardly bear wastewater treatment expenses. All rural residents know what sewers are very dirty and odorous, and may be blocked by wastewater and solid waste, which is very adverse to the living environment and their physical health. However, there is no fund at the township and village levels for regular wastewater treatment. Therefore, support from government agencies at all levels, international organizations and social organizations is required for the Project. Interview 4-27: Head of Xiyan Village, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County The operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment facilities needs heavy investment, and it is impractical to let our village bear such expenses alone. However, some villagers think that the village committee has money for this. 36 5 Social Impact Analysis 5.1 Positive impacts It can be found from the questionnaire survey that the positive impacts of the Project as perceived by residents in the 7 counties (districts) mainly include: A) improving the living environment, 26.1%; B) reducing drinking water pollution, 31.0%; C) reducing diseases, 23.7%; D) reducing wastewater impacts on crops, 7.8%; E) offering job opportunities, 4.8%; and F) promoting economic development, 6.0%; other, 0.6%. Table 5-1 Perceptions of positive impacts of the Project Positive impact of the Project Reducing Reducing Improving Promoting Perception drinking Reducing wastewater Offering job the living economic Other water diseases impacts on opportunities environment development pollution crops Sample size 84 100 77 25 16 19 2 Percent (%) 26.1 31.0 23.7 7.8 4.8 6.0 0.6 1) Improving water supply infrastructure and meeting residents’ water demand With the growth of the urban population of the 7 counties (districts), urban water demand will rise dramatically, so urban water supply capacity must keep up. However, some existing local waterworks have old, aged and small-capacity equipment that can hardly meet local urban and rural residents’ water demand. In addition, some villages are not covered or fully covered by tap water supply, and are still using well water, lake water or river water. Villagers in these villages have a strong need for clean water supply. The Project will improve water supply infrastructure, and supply high-quality, stable and clean water. Interview 5-1: Ms Deng, market town, Dengjia Xiang, Dongxiang District (54 years) Almost everyone approves of tap water supply, as long as it is of good quality, supplied stably and reasonably priced, because everyone prefers clean domestic water. Although we live in rural areas, we all want good health. You should give more publicity on the disadvantages of unclean water. 2) Promoting local economic development and increasing job opportunities The Project will improve the environment of the project area greatly, attract investment, and promote local economic development. The Project will also promote the intensive utilization of water resources, and provide solid infrastructure for developing local tourism resources, thereby offering more job opportunities to local residents. In addition, some unskilled jobs will be generated during project construction and operation, such as material transport and catering services for the construction staff at the construction stage, and the operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment systems at the operation stage. Through consultation with the PMOs and owners, the construction agencies will make such jobs first available to surplus labor in and around the project area, especially women, old people, poor people and other vulnerable groups. 3) Improving local water quality to ensure drinking water safety and reduce waterborne diseases In some villages, domestic wastewater is discharged into private septic tanks or directly without 37 treatment. Since septic tanks are based on natural permeation, wastewater has polluted groundwater to some extent. In addition, since some septic tanks are uncovered, wastewater may be washed away by rains in the rainy season, so that septic tanks are actually not functioning. Wastewater overflow is likely to give rise to mosquitoes, flies and bacteria, thereby resulting in related diseases, such as cold, fever and gastrointestinal distress. The Project will further ensure hygienic and safe water use for local residents, improve their physical health, and reduce waterborne diseases, especially for poor population who are more likely to get ill due to lower living standards. In addition, the Project will reduce water pollution by domestic wastewater. Figure 5-1 Open canal and blind ditch for wastewater discharge 4) Improving rural wastewater collection and treatment systems, the living environment, and residents’ environmental awareness Villages in Xiushui County lack wastewater collection and treatment facilities, where domestic wastewater is discharged into private septic tanks or directly without treatment, polluting the surrounding environment. The Project will improve rural wastewater collection and treatment systems, and local environmental infrastructure, and put an end of disorderly domestic wastewater discharge and associated problems. With the progress of economic and social development, people are increasingly sensitive to the environment, and their environmental awareness keeps improving, which is reflected in their demand for safe and hygienic water sources. In addition, residents who have been affected greatly by domestic wastewater and solid waste have a clear understanding of environmental improvement. 5.2 Potential risks 1) Impacts of permanent LA and temporary land occupation The new waterworks constructed under the Project will involve permanent LA in tea forests in Long’an Village, Caifeng Xiang, Yongxin County, orange and tea forests in Linchuan District, irrigated land in Dongxiang District, etc., affecting 343 households with 1,294 persons in total. LA will reduce land-based income, and affect some local residents’ livelihoods. Some local farmland will be occupied temporarily during pipeline construction, affecting 554 households with 2,052 persons and some ground attachments, which will be compensated for. In view of this, the households affected by permanent LA and temporary land occupation, and their impacts should be identified as early as possible, such impacts notified to the APs in advance, and compensation paid to them in full according to the prevailing policies. 38 Table 5-2 Statistics of population affected by permanent LA and temporary land occupation Yongxin Linchuan Dongxiang Jinxi Nanfeng Xiushui Leping No. Type of impact Subtotal County District District County County County City Permanent LA (mu) 108.8 79.18 91 4.4 0 2 0 285.38 1 Cultivated Where: 0 0 91 4.4 0 2 0 97.4 land Permanent occupation 2 of state-owned land 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 (mu) Temporary Collective 176.4 3 67.6 52 50.28 90.6 360.06 799.94 land State- 3 8.5 58.1 42.1 1.3 7.03 0 71.61 188.64 occupation owned (mu) Subtotal 184.9 61.1 109.7 53.3 57.31 90.6 431.67 988.58 Permanently HH 17 275 42 3 0 6 0 343 4 affected Person 74 973 197 15 0 35 0 1294 Temporarily HH 138 2 52 80 39 158 85 554 5 affected Person 599 6 169 326 99 574 279 2052 Collective Collective Collective 4.4 mu of 50 mu of 10 mu of Former woodland woodland cultivated irrigated land land site, acquired acquired land land, acquired acquired expansion, acquired affecting 3 in 2012 involving households no LA with 15 6 Remarks persons, and 16 mu of non- contracted woodland acquired In addition, road excavation during construction will affect the daily traffic of some urban and rural residents, and pipeline construction or extension will affect some public infrastructure, such as natural gas pipelines (Dongxiang District, Yongxin County), communication cables (Nanfeng County, Yongxin County), and high-speed railways (Dongxiang District). Figure 5-2 Left: pipeline construction in Dongxiang District; right: pipeline excavation in Leping City 2) Resettlement of employees of affected private waterworks After the completion of the new waterworks in the 7 counties (districts), some existing private 39 small waterworks will be purchased (by Runquan Water Supply Co., Ltd.) or closed down, and their existing employees will be resettled. The existing waterworks in 6 townships (Zhajin Town, Xiushui County; Shishan Town, Qiawan Town Nanfeng County; and Bogan Xiang, Xiaohuang, Gangshangji Towns, Dongxiang District) are all private waterworks, with 36 employees in total, who are all temporary contract employees. After closedown, the affected employees will be resettled on a voluntary basis in the following modes: 1) Inform every employee of the relevant water plants will be shut down, employee placement and other information, at least 3 months in advance; 2) Proprietors will grant one-time cash compensation to them, and they will find other jobs themselves; 3) Employees willing to work at new waterworks will be employed after training; and 4) Unskilled jobs at the construction and operation stages will be first made available to them. Table 5-3 Statistics of affected small waterworks and employees Indicator Private waterworks Existing Proposed resettlement Name County (district) / township workforce measures Xiushui Zhajin Town Jinda Waterworks 10 County Nanfeng Shishan Town Shishan Waterworks 3 Cash compensation + County Qiawan Town Qiawan Waterworks 3 employment training + Bogan Xiang Huimin Waterworks 4 contractual employment Dongxiang Xiaohuang Town Xiaohuang Waterworks 4 District Gangshangji Town Shengwang Waterworks 12 Total 6 36 / 3) Comments on the routing of raw water and extended pipelines to be collected from nearby residents and utility companies A) Residents worry that farmland may be affected. In Yongxin County, the raw water pipeline has a total length of 21.5km, and involves temporary land occupation in Group 3 of Hengxi Village near the hydropower station. Villagers do not allow pipelines to run through their farmland in order not to affect farming. Interview 5-2: Mr. Chen, Hengxi Village, Longyuankou Town, Yongxin County (52 years) The pipeline cannot run through my field, because it may affect my harvest, and cattle may collapse into the field. Please lay it along the river. B) Comments should be collected from utility companies. In Dongxiang District, the design route of the raw water pipeline runs through some national projects, such as high-speed railway and west-to-east natural gas transmission. Construction may be impeded if the design route is not approved by the relevant utility companies. The raw water pipeline from the Hefang Reservoir to the Chengdong Waterworks runs through National Highway 230 under construction, but will affect the high-speed railway and west-to-east natural gas transmission pipeline near the Fuzhou East Railway Station to some extent. In addition, Linchuan District is a cradle of gifted scholars, and has many cultural heritage sites, which should be evaded during pipeline construction. 4) Potential environmental impacts at the construction and operation stages Noise, flying dust and tail gas produced by construction machinery and vehicles, and domestic wastewater and waste discharged during construction may affect nearby villages’ lives and production to some extent. The potential negative impacts of the Project as contemplated by local 40 residents are: flying dust and tail gas during construction within 20m along water supply pipelines, 27.5%; water loss and soil erosion due to construction, 11.6%; discharge of construction and domestic wastewater, 18.6%; noise from construction machinery and vehicles, 20.1%; discharge of construction and domestic waste, 18.1%; other, 4.0%. Table 5-4 Perceptions of negative impacts of the Project Potential negative impacts during construction Flying dust Water loss and Discharge of Noise from Discharge of Perception and tail gas soil erosion construction construction construction and Other during due to and domestic machinery and domestic waste construction construction wastewater vehicles Sample size 89 37 60 65 59 13 Percent (%) 27.5 11.6 18.6 20.1 18.1 4.0 In addition, local residents think that the potential impacts of the Project after completion also include secondary pollution from sludge, 20.2%, increased expenses, 43.3%; partial land loss, 1.0%; no negative impact, 24.9%; and other 0.5%. Table 5-5 Perceptions of potential impacts of the Project after completion Potential negative impacts after completion Perception Secondary pollution Increased Partial land No negative Other from sludge expenses loss impact Sample size 65 140 36 80 2 Percent (%) 20.2 43.3 11.0 24.9 0.5 5) Past pipeline bursting in some areas may bring potential resistance to pipeline construction. A) Some villagers think that water supply pipelines should not be too close to their houses in order not to affect the foundation and house stability, and not be too far away from their houses so that bursting will not threaten their safety. For example, the water supply pipeline in Xiushui County is designed to run from the Dongjin Reservoir along roads, but the existing pipeline once burst due to the lack of maintenance, and formed a big puddle, where a child drowned, and a nearby house was shattered due to strong impact. For this reason, resistance from villagers may be encountered if pipelines are laid close to living areas. On the other hand, villagers worry that if pipelines are laid in fields, they and their cattle may collapse during farming, so they expect pipelines to be laid away from fields or deeper into fields. For example, a natural gas pipeline from the Longyuankou Reservoir to the proposed site in Yongxin County may be laid along the natural gas pipeline to avoid further LA and reduce resistance from villagers. B) Some villagers think that sewers should not be too close to their houses so that odor will not affect them, and sewers should be preferably not run through their houses, but be laid along roads. In addition, some villagers may impede construction when sewer construction is close to their houses. 6) Disputes arising from tap water connection cost higher than expectation and irrational collection of water charges A) There is doubt about the repeated payment of house connection cost. The task force has learned that the former house connection cost levied by private waterworks is 400 yuan per household (260 yuan per household in some places). After the closedown of private waterworks, tap 41 water is no longer supplied, and the house connection cost has not been refunded. It is learned from the interview with the head of the Lilin Waterworks that there will be two options for the Project: First, the house connection cost is 900 yuan per household, and will not be paid by any household that once paid 400 yuan per household; second, the house connection cost is not levied, but each household has to pay 20 yuan in water charges per month. Villagers generally think that the house connection cost is high, and expects it to be lower. Interview 5-3: Mr. Wu, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (51 years) Well water has been used for more than 10 years, and is of good quality. There was tap water in the village several years ago, but was of bad quality. I paid the house connection cost, and I think I don’t have to pay 900 yuan this time. That’s too much. B) There are irrational factors in water charge collection. Villagers think that the water rate in the county town is too high, and are not clear if it contains wastewater treatment charges. They think that they don’t have to pay wastewater treatment charges (0.8 yuan/m3), because there is no wastewater treatment facility in most rural areas. In addition, there is no preferential policy for local MLS households, five-guarantee households and other vulnerable groups yet. Interview 5-4: villager, market town of Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County The water rate here it too high, and we don’t know that it contains. My family is an MLS family, but has to pay water charges at the same rate. I cannot afford tap water. C) Villagers are still dissatisfied with design water sources. Some local residents are dissatisfied with proposed tap water sources. For example, in Chenfangji Xiang, the local reservoir is proposed as the water source, but local residents think that the reservoir has been used for fish culture and seriously polluted. Interview 5-5: villager, Shangzhang Group of Chenfang Village, Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County That reservoir is used for fish culture, and has been polluted by chicken and pig feces. As you can see, the water is green and unclear, and even not as good as well water. 7) Impact on power generation The Leping and Xiushui Subprojects will take water from existing reservoirs, such as the Communism, Dakouwu and Dongjin Reservoirs. Although this will have a minor impact on the reservoir function and environment, the Leping Subproject will reduce the discharge of the Chexi River by 0.365×108 m3 per annum directly, and the generating capacity of the downstream Chongshan, Gutian and Guxi hydropower stations by 260,000 kWh. In addition, the Xiushui Subproject will also reduce the generating capacity of the Dongjin Reservoir. Therefore, the coordination of interests between water supply companies and hydropower stations is also an important factor in project implementation. For example, in order to ensure water supply for the Subproject, 1）Xiushui County Water Company has entered into an agreement with Dongjin Power Generation Co., Ltd. to grant compensation for reduced generating capacity at 0.07 yuan/m3. 2) In Leping City, compensation is paid to the hydropower station annually based on water consumption. In April 2015, Leping Runquan Water Supply Company, the Leping Municipal Water 42 Resources Bureau, and the hydropower station entered into a tripartite agreement, where compensation of 193,200 yuan would be paid by the Leping Municipal Government to the Leping Municipal Water Resources Bureau, and then to the hydropower station annually from January 2011 to December 2014, totaling 772,800 yuan, and by the Leping Municipal Government to the Leping Municipal Water Resources Bureau, and then to the hydropower station annually after 2014 until water rate adjustment; after water rate adjustment, compensation would be paid by Leping Runquan Water Supply Company. Table 5-6 Analyais of impacts of water supply and drainage subcomponents at the operation stage County / Subcomponent Reservoir Impact analysis district Reducing the discharge of the Chexi River by 0.365×108 3 Urban waterworks Communism m per annum directly, and the generating capacity of the Leping City expansion Reservoir downstream Chongshan, Gutian and Guxi hydropower stations by 260,000 kWh Xiushui Urban waterworks Dongjin Reducing the generating capacity of the Dongjin County expansion Reservoir Reservoir 8) Potential social risks arising from the inflow of migrant workers during construction During construction, labor from other provinces, cities and counties will enter the 7 counties (districts) to meet the qualification and construction requirements. It is expected that about 250 external laborers and 770 local laborers will be recruited. The inflow of migrant workers will lead to social and health risks, such as the dissemination of epidemic and infectious diseases (e.g., AIDS, influenza), and conflict with local social and cultural customs (including religious believes, festivals, etc.). Table 5- 7 Summary of construction labor composition and types of work Indicator Migrant Local County / Main types of work Main types of work Total workers workers district Project management, Earth transport, material financial management, transport, pipeline laying and Xiushui 40 90 130 contract management, excavation, construction, machinery operation, etc. cooking, cleaning, etc. Project management, Construction, pipeline laying financial management, and excavation, material Nanfeng 30 60 90 contract management, transport, cooking, cleaning, machinery operation, etc. etc. Project management, Earth transport, material financial management, transport, pipeline laying and Yongxin 35 80 115 contract management, excavation, construction, machinery operation, etc. cooking, cleaning, etc. Earth transport, material Project management, transport, pipeline laying and financial management, Linchuan 35 75 excavation, construction, 110 contract management, material transport, cooking, machinery operation, etc. cleaning, etc. Earth transport, material Project management, transport, pipeline laying and financial management, Jinxi 25 60 excavation, construction, 85 contract management, material transport, cooking, machinery operation, etc. cleaning, etc. Project management, Pipeline laying and excavation, Dongxiang 30 60 90 financial management, construction, material transport, 43 contract management, cooking, cleaning, etc. machinery operation, etc. Earth transport, material Project management, transport, pipeline laying and financial management, Leping 55 95 excavation, construction, 150 contract management, material transport, cooking, machinery operation, etc. cleaning, etc. Total 250 / 770 / 1020 5.3 Suggestions on stable project operation 1) Practice flexible management mechanisms to meet stakeholders’ needs. For the two groups of Xunyi Village in Xiushui County, different house connection options may be applied, such as direct tap water connection for Group A to supply safe and stable tap water, and the connection of both spring and tap water for Group B, and the water rate may be reduced to some extent to improve their willingness to house connection. The affected employees of the private waterworks will be reemployed on a voluntary basis, granted cash compensation, and provided with operation and maintenance jobs with priority. In the fixation of the water rate, the urban and rural income gap should be considered. Due to long-term habits, non-tap water sources, such as well water and spring water, have become local residents’ main domestic water sources. It is difficult to make them switch to tap water in a short time, but the mixed use of well water, spring water and tap water may be applied so that they can use water at their own option, and the government can also make them switch to safe and stable tap water gradually through publicity. For water sources threatened by nearby or upstream mines or piggeries, impacts should be investigated by independent third parties. 2) Use appropriate construction methods to avoid construction impediment. Water supply pipelines should be laid in flat terrains, and away from living areas where possible to reduce resistance to construction. Materials used should be supervised more effectively to ensure construction quality, and a pipeline maintenance mechanism established to avoid bursting and other damages. The households affected by permanent LA and temporary land occupation, and their impacts should be identified as early as possible, such impacts notified to the APs in advance, and compensation paid to them in full according to the prevailing policies. 3) Strengthen publicity to guide villagers to treat the Project properly. In view of the insufficient and unstable supply of well and spring water, the advantages of tap water supply should be communicated to local rural residents to make them switch to tap water voluntarily. For vague perceptions about the concept of “tap water”, effective explanations should be made to correct their perceptions, thereby promoting integrated urban and rural water supply. Drinking water appeal, supervision and management mechanisms should be established to involve local residents. 4) Conduct planning and construction based on villagers’ needs. Self-built wastewater drainage facilities should be reconstructed to meet wastewater discharge demand. Uncovered open canals that are easy to clean but likely to contain solid waste and emit odor should be improved to be semi-covered and semi-uncovered, or fully covered (the cover is removable). During the design and construction of wastewater treatment plants, such self-built wastewater drainage facilities should be utilized where possible. Villagers think that pouring domestic wastewater out of the door can reduce dust, indicating that the rural environment is dry and dusty. In view of this, roads can be sprinkled regularly for humidification. In addition, local residents prefer sewer construction than wastewater treatment facility construction, so integrated 44 treatment facilities that include the function of a septic tank may be constructed. 5) Take advantage of all resources to improve villagers’ wastewater treatment awareness and willingness. Domestic wastewater discharge is frequent and unregulated in daily life. In view of this, publicity on domestic wastewater treatment for villagers should be strengthened to communicate negative impacts of improper discharge on the village environment, public health, etc., and a supervision and punishment mechanism established to improve villagers’ environmental awareness. Better-educated villagers should be mobilized to give publicity on the necessity of wastewater treatment, and serve as village contacts for wastewater treatment, thereby improving the willingness of worse-educated villagers for wastewater treatment. River pollution control should be strengthened as soon as possible to protect rivers. The importance of tap water quality for children’s physical health should also be included in publicity to improve the potential willingness for tap water house connection. 6) Strengthen management to improve working intensity and efficiency. A retrospective analysis of causes of failure of past projects should be made, and the analysis results summed up and disclosed to collect comments and suggestions. A wastewater treatment rate acceptable to all parties should be fixed through extension participation, and wastewater treatment charges should be shared appropriately by the government and villagers. The significance of collection of wastewater treatment charges should be explained to villagers, and the transparent disclosure of government fiscal revenue and expenditure strengthened as an aid. Local governments should pay more attention to the Project, and give more publicity through multiple channels to mobilize villagers. 7) Strengthen policy publicity to improve villagers’ sense of ownership. “Safe and stable supply” should be highlighted in the publicity on integrated urban and rural water supply to improve villagers’ sense of ownership, and involve them in village development. Publicity on the Project and successful cases of Bank-financed projects should be strengthened to enhance villagers’ confidence in the Project. 8) Handle the impact of reservoir water supply on power generation properly. The Leping and Xiushui Subprojects will take water from existing reservoirs, such as the Communism, Dakouwu and Dongjin Reservoirs, thereby reducing the generating capacity of the downstream hydropower stations directly. Therefore, the coordination of interests between water supply companies and hydropower stations is also an important factor in project implementation. For example, in order to ensure water supply for the Subproject, 1）In Xiushui County, Xiushui County Water Company has entered into an agreement with Dongjin Power Generation Co., Ltd. to grant compensation for reduced generating capacity at 0.07 yuan/m3, See Figure 5-3.2) In Leping City, compensation is paid to the hydropower station annually based on water consumption. In April 2015, Leping Runquan Water Supply Company, the Leping Municipal Water Resources Bureau, and the hydropower station entered into a tripartite agreement, where compensation of 193,200 yuan would be paid by the Leping Municipal Government to the Leping Municipal Water Resources Bureau, and then to the hydropower station annually from January 2011 to December 2014, totaling 772,800 yuan, and by the Leping Municipal Government to the Leping Municipal Water Resources Bureau, and then to the hydropower station annually after 2014 until water rate adjustment; after water rate adjustment, compensation would be paid by Leping Runquan Water Supply Company. See Figure 5-4. 45 Figure 5-3 Water intake agreement between the Xiushui No.3 WWTP and the Dongjin Hydropower Station Figure 5- 4 Water supply compensation agreement of Leping City 9) Strengthen the management of migrant workers, and prevent AIDS and other social risks During construction, labor from other provinces, cities and counties will enter the 7 counties (districts). The inflow of migrant workers will lead to social and health risks. Publicity on safety and health should be strengthened to prevent such risks, including: Strengthen publicity and education on public health and AIDS prevention, and include education on public health and AIDS prevention in construction contracts for effective performance; Conduct education and publicity on AIDS prevention and social intercourse skills for local laborers; Establish a physical checkup mechanism for construction staff; 46 Conduct diversified publicity on AIDS prevention (brochure, poster, album, etc.) Conduct publicity on local social and cultural customs to reduce potential conflicts. In addition, in order to promote the extensive participation of beneficiaries in construction, local labor (including women) will also be recruited: Not less than 35% of workers should be local laborers, including women and the poor; Make unskilled jobs first available to vulnerable groups (including women); Grant pays not less than the local minimum wage standard; grant a certain subsidy for environmental supervision jobs; Offer employment training to local laborers. 47 6 Poverty Analysis 6.1 Current Poverty Situation 6.1.1 Jiangxi Province During the 12th Five-year Plan period, Jiangxi’s poor population dropped from 4.38 million in 2011 to 2.04 million in 2015 by 2.34 million, and poverty incidence dropped from 12.6% to 5.7%. In the meantime, farmers’ income in poor areas grew dramatically. In these 5 years, 346,000 rural residents in Jiangxi moved from mountain areas, geological disaster-hit areas, reservoir areas and key rural polluted areas to urban areas, industrial parks, central towns and central villages. At the end of 2015, Jiangxi had 25 key counties for development-oriented poverty alleviation, 2900 key poor villages with 33,304 groups (including 12,443 key poor groups), and a poor population of 2 million. Jiangxi’s poor population has the following features: First, it remains large, and has a high proportion of MLS households; second, causes of poverty are diversified, especially illness and disability; third, the poor population is scattered yet relatively centralized; and fourth, county economies are weak, and infrastructure is backward. Among Jiangxi’s registered poor households, 57.1%, 11.6%, 4.5% and 3.3% are impoverished due to illness, disability, education and disaster, and 20.5%, 16.5% and 12.3% due to fund shortage, labor shortage and skill shortage. 6.1.2 Project area 6.1.2.1 Distribution of poor population The 7 project counties (districts) have 328 poor villages, and 45,906 poor households with 135,353 persons, with a poverty incidence of 2.9%. The two project counties with the highest poverty incidences are Yongxin and Xiushui Counties (6.5% and 6.2% respectively), while Linchuan District has the lowest poverty incidence of 1% only. Dongxiang District: In 2016, this district had 3,109 poor households with 6,968 persons, including 1,007 ordinary poor households with 2,601 persons, 1,336 MLS households with 3,474 persons and 766 five-guarantee households with 893 persons. This district has 6 province-level poor villages with 13 severely poor groups and 25 moderately poor groups, with a poverty incidence of 1.6%. Jinxi County: In 2016, this county had 2,373 registered poor households with 5,232 persons, with a poverty incidence of 1.6%, including 279 ordinary poor households with 742 persons, accounting for 11.38% and 14.18% respectively, and 1,402 MLS households poor households with 3,694 persons, accounting for 29.54% and 15.22% respectively. Leping City: This city has 8,601 registered poor population with 14,901 persons, with a poverty incidence of 1.6%, including 6 province-level poor villages and 54 city-level poor villages. Linchuan District: In 2016, this district had 10 poor villages (based on annual per capita disposable income of less than 4,000 yuan), and 5,377 poor households with 12,998 persons, with a poverty incidence of 1%. Nanfeng County: In 2016, this county had 12 poor villages, and 2,394 poor households with 7,137 persons, with a poverty incidence of 3%. Xiushui County: This county is the only state-level key county for development-oriented poverty alleviation of Jiujiang City, with a large poor population and a high poverty incidence. In 2016, this county had 91 poor villages and 14,551 poor households with 53,841 persons, with a poverty incidence of 6.2%. Yongxin County: This county is very poor in general. In 2016, this county had 9,501 poor 48 households with 34,276 persons, with a poverty incidence of 13.78%, and 106 province-level poor villages, accounting for 44.5% of all villages of this county. There are many dilapidated rural houses in this county, and most rural households have low self-development capacity and weak resistance to market risks. See Table 6-1. Table 6-1 Distribution of local poor population Poor Poor Poor Poverty Division villages households population incidence Dongxiang District 38 3109 6968 1.6% Jinxi County 17 2373 5232 1.6% Leping City 54 8601 14901 1.6% Linchuan District 10 5377 12998 1% Nanfeng County 12 2394 7137 3% Xiushui County 91 14551 53841 6.2% Yongxin County 106 9501 34276 6.5% Total (project area) 328 45906 135353 2.9% Source: county (district) poverty reduction summaries and plans Figure 6-1 Dilapidated rural houses 6.1.2.2 MLS overview At the end of 2015, Jiangxi had 2.672 million registered MLS subjects, including 976,000 urban ones and 1.696 million rural ones, and MLS benefits totaling 3.39 billion yuan were paid to urban MLS subjects, averaging 290 yuan per month, and MLS benefits totaling 3.36 billion yuan were paid to rural MLS subjects, averaging 165 yuan per month. The project area has 109,459 MLS households with 216,796 persons in total, accounting for 8.1% of Jiangxi’s MLS population, including 72,405 rural MLS households with 140,148 persons, and 37,054 urban MLS households with 76,648 persons. Among the 7 project counties (districts), the proportions of low-income rural population to agricultural population of Jinxi County, Leping City, Linchuan District and Xiushui County are greater than 4%, much higher than those of Dongxiang District, Nanfeng County and Yongxin County, in which those of Jinxi County, Linchuan District and Xiushui County are higher than the average of the project area of 4.3%, that of Leping City is largely equal to the average of the project area, but all lower than the provincial average of 6.8%. Among the 7 project counties (districts), the proportions of low-income urban population to nonagricultural population of Dongxiang District, Leping City, Xiushui County and Yongxin County are higher than the provincial average of 4.9%, and also higher than the average of the project area. See Table 6-2. 49 Table 6-2 Local MLS Rural MLS Urban MLS Division Percentage to Percentage to Populatio HHs Population agricultural HHs nonagricultural n population (%) population (%) Dongxiang District 8493 11062 3.4% 5167 8999 8.6% Jinxi County 8194 9393 4.9% 2781 3725 3.4% Leping City 7867 26749 4.3% 5073 17249 5.5% Linchuan District 24490 33627 4.7% 13455 24053 4.8% Nanfeng County 4546 8096 3.3% 5150 2796 4.1% Xiushui County 9265 34821 4.5% 2834 10487 10.2% Yongxin County 9404 16400 3.9% 2594 9339 10.1% Total (project area) 72405 140148 4.3% 37054 76648 5% Jiangxi Province 462125 1696000 6.8% 265940 976000 4.9% Source: Statistical Bulletin 2015 on National Economic and Social Development of Jiangxi Province, county / district statistics; Annual Government Information Disclosure Report 2015 of Jinxi County; information disclosure platform of the Yongxin County Government According to the Notice of the Jiangxi Provincial Government on Issuing the 2016 Opinions on Livelihood Improvement Arrangements (JPG [2016] No.8), the per capita monthly urban MLS benefit is now 320 yuan, and the per capita monthly rural MLS benefit195 yuan in the 7 counties (districts). 6.2 Causes of poverty Although the project 7 counties (districts) are widespread, their causes of poverty are similar. 1) The project area is underdeveloped for historical and geographic reasons. For example, the per capita farmers’ net income of Leping City in 2015 was 12,729 yuan, equivalent to the national average, and rural areas were backward in economic and social development, with an urbanization rate of 35%, lower than the national average by 21 percentage points. 2) Rural infrastructure is backward, affecting rural productivity and farmers’ income. This is reflected in backward transport, such as poor conditions of national and provincial trunk highways, the absence of high-speed railway, poor pavements of village roads, insufficient power supply capacity, weak river management, and unsafe drinking water. 3) Most rural households have low self-development capacity and weak risk resistance. This is reflected in impoverishment due to illness, disasters, fund shortage, labor shortage and skill shortage. For example, among 3,109 poor households in Dongxiang District, 1,749 households with 4,128 persons are impoverished due to illness, 39 households with 73 persons due to disasters, 2,833 households with 6,389 persons due to labor shortage, 81 households with 147 persons due to low self-development capacity, 763 households with 1,657 persons due to disability, 50 households with 97 persons due to education, two households with 3 persons due to water shortage, and 79 households with 207 persons due to skill shortage. 4) Basic public services are insufficient. General high and primary schools are short of teaching staff, medical conditions are poor, and the agricultural technique extension system is unsound. 5) Most poor villages are remote and short of natural resources, and their poverty is aggravated by the unavailability of information, natural disasters and the unsound rural MLS system. 5) Financial support is insufficient. According to the 12th Five-year Plan, the poverty alleviation fund for each poor village is 100,000 yuan per annum only, which is very limited. 50 6) Industry driving is insufficient. Except the orange industry in Nanfeng County, the other 6 counties (districts) do not have any developed characteristics industry. This is especially true in Yongxin County. 6.3 Local poverty alleviation measures In general, local poverty alleviation measures mainly include the following: 1) Industrial development: Industries suited to local conditions should be developed to promote local poverty alleviation. Great support should be offered to poor villages and households for industrial development, employment and business startup to increase income. Poor households should be supported to develop characteristic crop cultivation, stockbreeding, processing, photovoltaic power generation, e-commerce, rural tourism, etc. For example, Yongxin County has a history of sericulture of over 40 years, which has become its pillar industry. A high-quality sericulture base will be established during the 13th Five-year Plan period to cover covering 28,480 rural households with 105,240 persons, including 15,210 poor households with 49,580 persons, in 150 villages in 23 townships. 2) Employment: First, vocational and practical agricultural skills training will be offered extensively. Second, employment and reemployment should be promoted through multiple channels, and local industrial enterprises encouraged to recruit poor laborers with priority. Finally, support for business startup should be strengthened, including free training and policy guidance. 3) Health: This measure aims to reduce impoverishment or re-impoverishment due to illness, improve medical service capacity and level, and prevent and control diseases. For example, 100 village clinics will be improved at an investment of 10 million yuan in Leping City during the 13th Five-year Plan period. In addition, door-to-door medical services will be offered to rural residents, especially for lonely old people, disabled people, etc. 4) Ecological conservation: First, ecological rehabilitation in poor areas should be strengthened to reduce rural non-point-source pollution. Second, a sound ecological compensation mechanism should be established for poor villages to promote water and soil conservation. Third, innovative modes of ecological building and compensation use should be explored to build ecological demonstration areas and a new countryside, and realize both economic development and ecological improvement. 5) Infrastructure construction: First, resource development and ecological conservation in poor areas will be strengthened, and support provided to small water resources works in poor villages. Second, infrastructure construction should be promoted with financial support, such as safe drinking water, rural road, drought combating, and rural water system integration works. 6) Social security: A) Improve social relief level, including MLS, medical, insurance, educational, charity and temporary relief. B) Improve rural basic endowment insurance level to ensure that old rural poor population is supported. C) Establish a sound care service system for children, women, old people and disabled people, including relevant social organizations. 7) Social assistance: A) Fixed support: Task forces composed of officials will be assigned to poor villages for full coverage. B) Paired support: CPC members and officials will be organized to support designated poor households. C) Enterprise support: Enterprises will be mobilized to support local poor households by means of industrial development, employment, donation, etc. See Table 6-3. Table 6-3 Summary of one-to-one support by non-public enterprises in Leping City 51 County (district) level City level No. Poor village Person in Supporting entity Supporting entity Person in charge charge Zhangmuli Leping Qingye Wang Feng, executive Wang Hongma Private High 1 Village, Gaojia Chamber of member of the city industry Feng School Town, Leping City Commerce and commerce association Wujia Village, Jiangxi Tianxin Xu Xifan, member of the city Jiangxi Wumu Logistics 2 Hongyan Town, Pharmaceutical Co., Guo Jun industry and commerce Co., Ltd. Leping City Ltd. association Mule Village, Tan Xiaobao, member of the Ye Baocilin Ceramics Co., 3 Lingang Town, Shuoguo Co., Ltd. city industry and commerce Shuoguo Ltd. Leping City association Longkou Village, Leping Industrial Ouyang Qi, Vice Chairman of Zou Pengfei Building 4 Luci Xiang, Trading Chamber of the city industry and Guohai Ceramics Co., Ltd. Leping City Commerce commerce association Ye Qing, Vice Chairman of Baita Village, Jiangxi Jinxi Jiangxi Jinxi Cement the provincial and city 5 Shiligang Town, Ye Lin Cement Co., Ltd. Co., Ltd. industry and commerce Leping City associations Non-staple food and Yangfan Village, Jiangxi Zhongyuan general merchandise Zou Heshui, executive Wang 6 Zhongbu Town, Modern Agricultural supply chamber of the member of the city industry Jianxing Leping City Investment Co., Ltd. city industry and and commerce association commerce association 6.4 Poor population’s needs for the Project It can be seen that the Project will affect and serve a large poor population. Only if the special needs of poor people are met, their suggestions accepted, and the Project’s potential negative impacts on them evaded can they truly benefit from the Project. The task force identified their needs during the fieldwork, and has proposed suggestions accordingly. 1) Demand for employment: 73.1% of the MLS respondents are willing to get employed under the Project. Unskilled jobs generated at the construction and operation stages of the Project will be first made available to them. Interview 6-1: Li XX, Donggang Village, Weishangqiao Town, Dongxiang District I am a disabled person entitled to MLS. I can take care of myself and do simple housework, but can hardly work outside to earn money. I’m very glad to do simple jobs offered by the Project, as long as they accept me. 2) Demand for lower water rate: It can be seen from the ability to pay analysis of poor people (see Section 7.2.2 “Ability to pay analysis”) that the proportion of their water charges to household expenditure is much higher than that of ordinary households. Extra water charges or wastewater treatment charges collected after project completion may increase their financial burden, and further aggravate their poverty. Most poor residents expect that a preferential policy be enacted for low-income households to reduce their financial burden. 52 Interview 6-2: Cheng XX, MLS household, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City My family has financial difficulty, and relies heavily on the MLS benefit offered by the government, which is very limited. Water charges will make my family more financially difficult, and some preference for MLS households is expected. Of course, I know that the totally free use of tap water is impossible. 3) Demand for water use and water conservation for poor population: Poor people are often characterized by low educational levels and low social status. Their needs are often ignored in social activities. Publicity and training on water use and conservation should be offered giving consideration to their characteristics to promote their participation. 6.5 Impacts of the Project on poor population The Project will involve LA, where relatively poor villages and people are often disadvantaged in using compensation, benefiting from the Project and adapting to new lifestyle, so their poverty may be aggravated. The collection of water charges and wastewater treatment charges after project completion will increase the financial burden of poor households to some extent. In view of this, the following measures have been planned to avoid further impoverishment and ensure that poor population benefits equally from the Project: 1) Offering direct and indirect job opportunities to increase income Job opportunities generated directly by the Project: Some temporary or permanent jobs will be generated at the construction and operation stages, such as material transport, excavation, earth filling and bricklaying, which will be first made available to local poor people and other vulnerable groups to increase their income. Job opportunities generated indirectly by the Project: Rural tourism development is an effective way of poverty alleviation in Jiangxi, promoting the development of secondary and tertiary industries. The Project will create a good environment for tourism development, and attract more visitors to the project area, thereby generating more job opportunities indirectly, such as catering, accommodation and cleaning. 2) Improving the living environment to reduce medical expenses Poor people are often likely to get ill due to poor living conditions and backward infrastructure, and be impoverished by medical expenses. The Project will improve local water supply and drainage facilities, and reduce domestic wastewater pollution, thereby reducing the incidence of waterborne diseases and poor households’ medical expenses. 3) Promoting local economic development The Project will improve the environment of the project area greatly, attract investment, and promote local economic development, thereby offering more job opportunities to local residents. This will promote tourism development in the 7 counties (districts), thereby promoting the development of associated industries, such as catering, accommodation and tour guidance, and the employment of local residents, such as hotel and restaurant service, cleaning, cooking, and driving. This will bring more job opportunities to local residents, especially vulnerable groups, and increase their income. 4) Promoting social fairness The Project will improve rural water supply in the 7 counties (districts) practically, and allow 53 local residents to share economic and social development. The project will not only benefit a poor population of over 100,000 in the project area, and but also benefit a larger poor population in nearby areas. 54 7 Willingness and Ability to Pay 7.1 Willingness to pay In the Project, except that Xiushui County involves wastewater treatment charges, expenses arising from the Project are water charges mainly. This chapter covers willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges in Xiushui County and willingness to pay water charges in the 7 counties (districts) mainly. The data for willingness to pay model analysis is from the questionnaire survey. 323 valid copies of the questionnaire were recovered in total, including 38 copies in Xiushui County, 43 copies in Nanfeng County, 51 copies in Yongxin County, 72 copies in Jinxi County, 55 copies in Dongxiang District, 53 copies in Leping City and 11 copies in Linchuan District. 7.1.1 Willingness to pay water charges 7.1.1.1 Willingness to pay Among the 323 respondents, 80.2% are willing to pay extract water charges per month, mostly within the range of 6-10 yuan. Among the 7 project counties (districts), those willing to pay extract water charges per month account for 85.5% in Dongxiang District, 79.2% in Jinxi County, 77.4% in Leping City, 81.8% in Linchuan District, 72.1% in Nanfeng County, 81.6% in Xiushui County and 84.3% in Yongxin County. See Figure 7-1. Figure 7-1 Willingness to pay extra water charges by project county (district) The range of extra water charges to be paid per month is 6-10 yuan for Dongxiang District, Jinxi County, Leping City and Yongxin County, 2-5 yuan for Linchuan District, below 2 yuan and 6-10 yuan for Nanfeng County, and 11-15 yuan for Xiushui County. See Figure 7-2. 55 Figure 7-2 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by project county (district) (monthly) 7.1.1.2 Household income and willingness to pay Household income may affect willingness to pay extra water charges, but not greatly. For the respondents with household income of 10,000 yuan or less, willingness to pay extra water charges is directly proportional to monthly household income1. See Figure 7-3. Figure 7-3 Willingness to pay extra water charges by household income 7.1.1.3 Educational level and willingness to pay Respondents of different educational levels are all willing to pay extra water charges. Specifically, the primary school group has the highest willingness to pay of 85.3%, followed by the junior high school group (80%), and the junior college or above group has the lowest willingness to pay of 70% only. See Figure 7-4. Figure 7-4 Willingness to pay extra water charges by educational level 1 However, in the household income group of 10,001-20,000 yuan, residents willing to pay extra water charges account for the lowest proportion, even lower than the household income group of 1,000 yuan or less. This may be due to the small sample size of this group, and is not of statistical significance. 56 Respondents of different educational levels are mostly willing to pay extra water charges of 6-10 yuan, and the proportions of those willing to pay 20 yuan or more are the lowest in their respective groups. Those willing to pay 6-10 yuan account for 44.4%, followed by 2-5 yuan (19.4%). Among the primary school, junior high school and senior high school / secondary technical school groups, those willing to pay 6-10 yuan account for 35.8%, 44% and 38.2% respectively, followed by 11-15 yuan, accounting for 21%, 21% and 20.6% respectively. In the junior college or above group, those willing to pay 16-20 yuan account for 42.9%, followed by 2-5 yuan, accounting for 28.6%. See Table 7-1. Table 7-1 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by educational level Senior high school / Primary Junior high Junior college Illiterate secondary technical Amount school school or above school N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Below 2 yuan 3 8.3% 11 13.6% 12 12% 6 17.6% 0 0% 2-5 yuan 7 19.4% 14 17.3% 13 13% 4 11.8% 2 28.6% 6-10 yuan 16 44.4% 29 35.8% 44 44% 13 38.2% 1 14.3% 11-15 yuan 6 16.7% 17 21% 21 21% 7 20.6% 1 14.3% 16-20 yuan 3 8.3% 9 11.1% 9 9% 3 8.8% 3 42.9% 20 yuan or more 1 2.8% 1 1.2% 1 1% 1 2.9% 0 0% Total 36 100% 81 100% 100 100% 34 100% 7 100% 7.1.1.4 Occupation and willingness to pay Residents of different occupations also differ in willingness to pay extra water charges. Those more willing to extra water charges are workers of public institutions and retirees, all being 100%, followed by civil servants and freelancers, all above 80%. Farmers willing to pay extra water charges account for 80%, and migrant workers have the lowest willingness to pay, because they do not live at home most of the year, but even so, migrant workers willing to pay extra water charges account for 70.4%. See Figure 7-5. Figure 7-5 Willingness to pay extra water charges by occupation Residents of different occupations also differ in amount of extra water charges willing to be paid. Civil servants, self-employers, freelancers, retirees and migrant workers are mostly willing to pay 6-10 yuan, while workers of public institutions and enterprise employees are mostly willing to pay 2-5 yuan. See Figure 7-6. 57 Figure 7-6 Willingness to pay extra water charges by occupation (month) Generally, willingness to pay and amount of extra payment do not correlate with occupation. The data here is for reference only. 7.1.1.5 Age and willingness to pay Age also affects willingness to pay extra water charges to some extent. Residents aged 41-65 years (middle-aged) have the highest willingness to pay extra water charges, accounting for 88.4%; followed by those aged 18-28 years (adolescence), accounting for 77.3%. Those aged 29-40 years (mature youth) have the lowest willingness to pay, accounting for 71.8% only. 74.5% of those aged 65 years or above (old) are willing to pay. However, overall willingness to pay is above 70%. See Figure 7-7. Figure 7-7 Willingness to pay extra water charges by age group With the increase of age, from 18-28 years to 29-40 years and then to 41-65 years, the amount of extra water charges paid is rising, but there is a downward trend when it comes to 65 years or 58 above. See Table 7-2. Table 7-2 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by age group (monthly) 18-28 years 29-40 years 41-65 years 65 years or above Amount N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Below 2 yuan 6 35.3% 8 13.1% 13 8.9% 5 14.3% 2-5 yuan 5 29.4% 9 14.8% 22 15.1% 4 11.4% 6-10 yuan 0 0% 21 34.4% 67 45.9% 15 42.9% 11-15 yuan 3 17.6% 16 25.2% 28 19.2% 6 17.1% 15-20 yuan 3 17.6% 7 11.5% 13 8.9% 4 11.4% 20 yuan or more 0 0% 0 0% 3 2.1% 1 2.9% Total 17 100% 61 100% 146 100% 35 100% Interview 7-1: Xu XX, Group 2 of Lyufang Village, Shangdundu Town, Linchuan District (65+ years) I don’t care much about money, as long as water is good. The price of 2 yuan/ton is acceptable. Many diseases relate to drinking water. There are many cancer and calculus patients in our village. I’m so old, so it is inconvenient for me to use well water. Interview 7-2: Chen XX, Yingbin Garden, Jinxi County (18-28 years) I’m willing to pay water charges for high-quality water. It does not matter to adults, but it does matter to children. My child is less than one year old, and has weak body resistance. We buy bottled water for my child, but this is not a long-term measure. That’s too expensive after all. We are very willing to use high-quality tap water. 7.1.1.6 Gender and willingness to pay 143 males are willing to pay extra water charges, accounting for 80.8%, higher than the proportion of 79.5% among females. See Figure 7-8. Figure 7-8 Willingness to pay extra water charges by gender The range of extra amount willing to be paid with the highest proportion is 6-10 yuan, 59 regardless of gender. See Table 7-3. Table 7-3 Amounts of extra water charges willing to be paid by gender (monthly) Male Female Amount N Percent N Percent Below 2 yuan 20 14% 12 10.3% 2-5 yuan 25 17.5% 15 12.9% 6-10 yuan 49 34.3% 54 46.6% 11-15 yuan 33 23.1% 20 17.2% 16-20 yuan 12 8.4% 15 12.9% 20 yuan or more 4 2.8% 0 0% Total 143 100% 116 100% Interview 7-3: Mr. Ye, Yejia Group of Longnan Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County I’m willing to pay water charges, but not too much. Water is a necessity. I’m willing to pay an extra amount of about 10 yuan per month, but this depends on water quality. Interview 7-4: Ms Liu, Zhangfang Village, Xiaogang Town, Dongxiang District I’m willing to pay a bit more for good water, about 5 yuan per month. My family pays over 10 yuan per month for water. As you know, it is not easy to earn money in our rural areas. Many people here just use free well water, but I think that tap water is convenient. 7.1.2 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges Among the 7 project counties (districts), only Xiushui County has a wastewater treatment work. The willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County is analyzed separately here, with 38 samples in total. 7.1.2.1 Xiushui County Among the 38 samples, 26 are willing to pay wastewater treatment charges, accounting for 68.4%; and 12 are unwilling to pay wastewater treatment charges, accounting for 31.6%. All those willing to pay wastewater treatment charges are only willing to pay 20 yuan or less. See Figure 7-9. Figure 7-9 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County 60 Since all residents willing to pay wastewater treatment charges are only willing to pay 20 yuan or less, the amount willing to be paid has no obvious relationship with household income, educational level, occupation, age and gender. Interview 7-5: Liang XX, Zhoujiazhuang Village, Xigang Town, Xiushui County I support wastewater treatment, but am somewhat unwilling to pay for it. It should be the responsibility of the government, and should not be borne by us. We earn very little but have to pay many items. Interview 7-6: Huang XX, Aoshang Village, Gangkou Town, Xiushui County As the government has the mind to do this, it is acceptable to pay a bit money for this, but not more than 20 yuan per month, of course the less the better. Although we will benefit from it, it will take time for us to accept it. Moreover, this is an achievement of the government, and we should benefit from this. 7.1.2.2 Household income and willingness to pay The willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County is directly proportion to household income. See Table 7-4. Table 7-4 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by household income 1,000 yuan or 1,001-3,000 3,001-6,000 6,001-10,000 10,001-20,000 Willingness less yuan yuan yuan yuan to pay N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Willing 2 66.7% 12 60% 9 75% 1 100% 2 100% Unwilling 1 33.3% 8 40% 3 25% 0 0% 0 0% Total 3 100% 20 100% 12 100% 1 100% 2 100% 7.1.2.3 Educational level and ability to pay The willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County is inversely proportion to educational level. See Table 7-5. Table 7-5 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by educational level Senior high school Junior high Junior college or Willingness Illiterate Primary school / secondary school above to pay technical school N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Willing 1 100% 9 75% 12 70% 4 66.7% 0 0% Unwilling 0 0% 3 25% 5 29.4% 2 33.3% 1 100% Total 1 100% 12 100% 17 100% 6 100% 1 100% 7.1.2.4 Occupation and willingness to pay Residents of different occupations differ in willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges, but there is no correlation. Self-employers and retirees have the highest willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges, being 100%; followed by farmers (80%) and others (66.7%); 61 freelancers and civil servants have the lowest willingness to pay, being 60% and 50% respectively. See Table 7-6. Table 7-6 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by occupation Worker of Self- Migrant Willingness Civil servant public employer Freelancer Retiree Farmer worker Other to pay institution N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent N Percent Willing 2 50% 0 0% 1 100% 3 60% 2 100% 16 80% 0 0% 2 66.7% Unwilling 2 50% 1 100% 0 0% 2 40% 0 0% 4 20% 1 100% 1 33.3% Total 4 100% 1 100% 1 100% 5 100% 2 100% 20 100% 1 100% 3 100% Interview 7-7: Chen XX, Daqiao Village, Daqiao Town, Xiushui County My whole family is working outside, and would return home only if there is something important. Since we stay at home for short periods, we do not rely on wastewater treatment, and are of course unwilling to pay for this. 7.1.2.5 Age and willingness to pay Age is directly proportional to willingness to pay. In the group of 29-40 years, 54.5% of the respondents are willing to pay wastewater treatment charges; in the group of 41-65 years, this proportion is 72.7%; in the group of 65 years or above, this proportion is 80%. See Figure 7-10. Figure 7-10 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by age group 7.1.2.6 Gender and willingness to pay Males are more willing to pay wastewater treatment charges than females. 71.4% of the male respondents are willing to pay wastewater treatment charges, while this proportion is 64.7% among the females. See Figure 7-11. 62 Figure 7-11 Willingness to pay wastewater treatment charges of residents in Xiushui County by gender 7.2 Ability to pay The Study Report on Urban Water Shortage 1995 issued by the Ministry of Construction thinks a proportion of 2.5-3% of domestic water expenses to household income is appropriate for our country’s urban residents. The Bank thinks that a proportion of 3-5% is feasible. In view of the socioeconomic profile of the 7 counties (districts), the reasonable level is fixed at 3% in this report. 7.2.1 Current situation of payment Among the 7 counties (districts), water rates2 are fixed in two modes: 1) For townships and villages serviced by township waterworks, water rates are fixed by price control and related competent authorities; 2) For villages serviced by self-built water supply works, water rates are fixed by village committees based on villager comments. In ability to pay calculation, if the proportion of water charges to annual household income based on the highest water rate in the 7 counties (districts) is lower than the reasonable level of 3%, it is deemed that local water rates are affordable. For example, in Yongxin County, water rate is 1 yuan/ton in the Gaoqiaolou market town and 2 yuan/ton in the Huaizhong market town, so 2 yuan/ton is used for calculation. See Table 7-7. Table 7-7 Summary of local domestic water charges Domestic water price (yuan/ton) County (district) Tap water Wastewater Actual water rate treatment charges rate Dongxiang District 1.5 0 1.5 Jinxi County 1.8 0 1.8 Leping City 1.5 0 1.5 Linchuan District 1.5 0 1.5 Nanfeng County 1.1 0 1.1 Xiushui County 1.6 0 1.6 Yongxin County 2 0 2 Source: Feasibility Study Report, fieldwork 2 In this chapter, water charges include water charges and wastewater treatment charges. 63 Figure 7-12 Receipts of water charges in Linchuan District 7.2.2 Ability to pay analysis The average monthly household water consumptions of the 7 counties (districts) are as follows: Dongxiang District 11.2 tons, Jinxi County 10.3 tons, Leping City 11.2 tons, Linchuan District 10 tons, Nanfeng County 10.8 tons, Xiushui County 10.5 tons and Yongxin County 10.4 tons. The proportions of water charges to annual income for urban households are 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.2%, 0.2%, 0.25% and 0.4% respectively, and those for rural households 0.6%, 0.6%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.2%, 0.72% and 0.9% respectively. It can be seen that the above proportions are much lower than the reasonable level of 3%, indicating that existing water rates in the project area are affordable for local households. See Table 7-8. For MLS households, average annual household income is calculated based on the per capita monthly MLS benefits of the 7 counties (districts) here. According to the Notice of the Jiangxi Provincial Government on Issuing the 2016 Opinions on Livelihood Improvement Arrangements (JPG [2016] No.8), the per capita monthly urban MLS benefit is now 320 yuan, and the per capita monthly rural MLS benefit195 yuan in the 7 counties (districts). Based on calculation, the proportions of water charges to annual income for urban MLS households are 1.3%, 1.8%, 1.1%, 1.6%, 1%, 1.4% and 0.2% respectively, and those for rural MLS households 2.3%, 3%, 1.9%, 2.6%, 1.7%, 2.3% and 2.9% respectively. It can be seen that even the proportions of MLS households are also lower than the reasonable level, indicating that existing water rates in the project area are affordable for local MLS households3. 4 Table 7-8 Ability to pay analysis of local ordinary and MLS residents Monthl Annual Per Average Percentage of Average y water water Annual capita populati water charges annual County (district) consu consu water annual on per to annual household mption mption( charges income househ household income (ton) ton) (yuan) old income (%) Ordinary 11.2 134 201 19324.7 3.8 73433 0.3% Urban Dongxiang MLS 11.2 134 201 3840 3.8 14592 1.3% District Ordinary 11.2 134 201 9495.2 3.8 36081 0.6% Rural MLS 11.2 134 201 2340 3.8 8892 2.3% 3 According to organizational interviews, there is no preferential policy on water charges for MLS households in the 7 counties (districts). 4 In the table, annual water consumption = monthly water consumption × 12; annual water charges = annual water consumption × water rate; average annual household income =per capita annual income × average population per household; percentage of annual water charges to annual household income = annual water charges / average annual household income; MLS households per capita annual income = MLS standard ×12 64 Ordinary 10.3 124 223.2 23914 3.1 23914 0.3% Urban Jinxi MLS 10.3 124 223.2 3840 3.1 3840 1.8% County Ordinary 10.3 124 223.2 11582 3.1 11582 0.6% Rural MLS 10.3 124 223.2 2340 3.1 2340 3% Ordinary 11.2 134.2 201.3 26785 4.6 123211 0.2% Urban MLS 11.2 134.2 201.3 3840 4.6 17664 1.1% Leping City Ordinary 11.2 134.2 201.3 12729 4.6 58553.4 0.3% Rural MLS 11.2 134.2 201.3 2340 4.6 10764 1.9% Ordinary 10 120 180 30530 3 91590 0.2% Urban Linchuan MLS 10 120 180 3840 3 11520 1.6% District Ordinary 10 120 180 13925 3 41775 0.4% Rural MLS 10 120 180 2340 3 7020 2.6% Ordinary 10.8 130 143 25513 3.5 25513 0.2% Urban Nanfeng MLS 10.8 130 143 3840 3.5 3840 1% County Ordinary 10.8 130 143 17147 3.5 17147 0.2% Rural MLS 10.8 130 143 2340 3.5 2340 1.7% Ordinary 10.5 126.5 202.4 22224 3.7 82228.8 0.25% Urban Xiushui MLS 10.5 126.5 202.4 3840 3.7 14208 1.4% County Ordinary 10.5 126.5 202.4 7599 3.7 28116.3 0.72% Rural MLS 10.5 126.5 202.4 2340 3.7 8658 2.3% Ordinary 10.4 125 250 19517 3.6 70261.2 0.4% Urban Yongxin MLS 10.4 125 250 3840 3.6 13824 0.2% County Ordinary 10.4 125 250 7587 3.6 27313.2 0.9% Rural MLS 10.4 125 250 2340 3.6 8424 2.9% Source: 1) questionnaire survey; 2) statistical yearbooks; 3) Water Resources Bulletin 2014 of Jiangxi Province It can be seen that: 1) In view of the economic development and income growth of the 7 counties (districts) in the next few years, water charges are affordable for local residents. However, since no wastewater treatment charge is levied on rural residents in the 7 counties (districts) rural residents (for urban residents, wastewater treatment charges are included in water charges), it is still unknown if water charges inclusive of wastewater treatment charges are affordable for local residents. 2) The collection of water charges will affect poor people more severely than ordinary residents, and bring pressure to their livelihoods. 3) Preferential policies for low-income households will help reduce their financial burden. 4) The governments and owners of the 7 counties (districts) should promulgate preferential policies for vulnerable groups as soon as possible to reduce their financial burden and ensure that they benefit from the Project. 65 8 Social Gender Analysis 8.1 Local female population At the end of 2015, Jiangxi had a resident population of 45.656 million, an increase of 234,700 or 5.2%from 2014, including 23.437 million males and 22.219 million females, with a gender ration of 105.5. The 7 project counties (districts) have a population of 4.611 million, including 2.173 million females, accounting for 47.1%, with a gender ratio of 112.2, higher than the provincial average by 6.6. Among the 7 project counties (districts), Jinxi County has the highest proportion of female population of 48.1%, and Leping City has the lowest proportion of 46.4%; Leping City has the highest gender ratio of 115.7, and Jinxi County has the lowest ratio of 107.8. See Table 8-1. Table 8-1 Basic information of local women (2015) HHs Population Males Females Percentage Gender ratio Division (0,000) (0,000) (0,000) (0,000) of females (female = 100) Jiangxi Province 1266.9 4565.6 2343.7 2221.9 48.7% 105.5 Project area 142.1 461.1 243.8 217.3 47.1% 112.2 Dongxiang District 11.5 43.8 23.1 20.7 47.3% 111.4 Jinxi County 10.3 31.8 16.5 15.3 48.1% 107.8 Leping City 27.5 93.2 50 43.2 46.4% 115.7 Linchuan District 40.7 121.1 64.6 56.5 46.7% 114.3 Nanfeng County 9.9 31.6 16.6 15 47.5% 110.7 Xiushui County 23.6 87.1 45.5 41.6 47.8% 109.4 Yongxin County 18.6 52.5 27.5 25 47.6% 110 th Source: Statistical Yearbook 2015 of Jiangxi Province, Data of the 6 National Census of Jiangxi th Province, Data of the 6 National Census of Dongxiang District, Statistical Yearbook 2016 of Leping City, Statistical Yearbook 2016 of Linchuan District, Statistical Yearbook 2014 of Nanfeng County, Statistical Yearbook 2016 of Xiushui County, Statistical Yearbook 2015 of Yongxin County 8.2 Current situation of local women To learn local women’s development, the task force conducted a questionnaire survey, with 146 female respondents, accounting for 45.2% of all samples. 1) Age structure Among the respondents, those aged 41-65 years account for 52.3%, being 50.8% and 54.1% for males and females respectively. Among the females, those aged 41-65 years are the most, followed by those aged 29-40 years, and those aged 18-28 years are the least. See Figure 8-1. Figure 8-1 Distribution of respondents by gender / age 66 2) Educational level 64.4% and 72.3% of the female and male respondents have received primary school or junior high school education respectively. 3.4% of the females have received junior college or above education, higher than that of the males of 2.8%; 15.8% of the males have received senior high school / secondary technical school education, higher than that of the females of 10.3%; 21.9% of the females are illiterate, higher than that of the males of 9%. It can be seen that there are significant differences in educational level between the males and females, and the overall educational level of the females is slightly lower than that of the males. See Table 8-2. Table 8-2 Distribution of samples by gender and educational level Male Female Total Educational level Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Junior college or above 5 2.8% 5 3.4% 10 3.1% Senior high school / 28 15.8% 15 10.3% 43 13.3% secondary technical school Junior high school 74 41.8% 51 34.9% 125 38.7% Primary school 54 30.5% 43 29.5% 97 30% Illiterate 16 9% 32 21.9% 48 14.9% Total 177 100% 144 100% 323 100% 3) Occupation More than half of the male and female respondents are farmers, showing no significant gender difference. Among the females, the proportions of workers of public institutions, employees of state-owned enterprises, self-employers, freelancers, retirees and migrant workers are lower than those of the males, showing an obvious division of labor by gender, where males deal with external affairs, while females with internal affairs mainly. According to interviews, women do farm work and housework mainly, and even those employed work at nearby enterprises or in the slack season. Men usually enjoy higher family status than women. See Table 8-3. Table 8-3 Distribution of samples by gender and occupation Male Female Total Occupation Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Civil servant 4 2.3% 4 2.7% 8 2.5% Worker of public institution 2 1.1% 1 0.7% 3 0.9% Employee of state-owned 6 3.4% 3 2.1% 9 2.8% enterprise Self-employer 28 15.8% 21 14.4% 49 15.2% Freelancer 16 9% 10 6.8% 26 8% Retiree 3 1.7% 2 1.4% 5 1.5% Farmer 101 57.1% 83 56.8% 184 57% Migrant worker 15 8.5% 12 8.2% 27 8.4% Other 2 1.1% 10 6.8% 12 3.7% Total 177 100% 145 100% 323 100% Note: “Other” mainly includes old people aged 65 years or above and students. 4) Social status A) The traditional gender-based division of labor remains. 72.9% of the respondents’ families are headed by men, while only 11% headed by women. See Figure 8-2. 67 Figure 8-2 Distribution of samples by gender / household head When asked “Which member of your family will attend meetings related to the Project?”, 58.9% of the respondents choose man, only 15.1% choose woman, and 26% choose whoever is free. See Figure 8-3. 项目相关会议参与意愿调查情况 谁有空谁参加 26% 男性 女性 男性 谁有空谁参加 女性 59% 15% Figure 8-3 Willingness to attend meetings related to the Project Interview 8-1: Wei XX, Nongminjie Village, Dengjia Xiang, Dongxiang District Village committee meetings are mostly attended by my husband or father-in-law. I have never been there, and don’t want to be there, because all attendees are men. It can be seen that: Local women’s social status is lower than that of men; Women’s overall educational level is low and lower than that of men; Women’s participation level in and influence over public affairs are weaker than those of men. 2) Local women’s social status has improved, and the proportion of women participating in political affairs is increasing. 68 However, in recent years, through active efforts of government agencies, women’s federations and public welfare organizations (or international organizations), local women have more opportunities to participate in public affairs, and enjoy public services and supporting policies. In the 7 project counties (districts), women’s social status is improving gradually, and the number of women participating in political affairs is increasing. To promote women’s participation in decision-making and management, local women’s federations have enacted and improved relevant policies. Measures have been taken to increase the percentage of women in people’s congress and political consultative conference members at all levels. There is at least one female official in the leadership of each government at or above the county level, and the number of female officials in leadership of the departments under township governments is increasing gradually. The percentage of female members in corporate boards of directors and supervisors, and management levels, and female deputies in workers’ and teachers’ congresses is increasing gradually. All village committees have female members, over 5% of village heads are women, and about 50% of staff members of community committees are women. Women’s economic participation has been activated. Local governments and social organizations have created favorable conditions for women’s employment, offered public welfare jobs to women, and taken such measures as policy support, tax exemption, loan discounting, social insurance subsidization, training subsidization, small-amount loan and follow-up guidance to support women’s business startup and reemployment. In addition, local women’s federations motivate women to excel in building morals and creating wealth. More and more public activities oriented to women in the project area will certainly provide women with more opportunities to participate in public affairs, improve their ability to participate in social activities, increase their technical, social and material capital, and make it possible to increase their income, and elevate their family and social status. 8.3 Gender difference analysis At the preparation stage, the Jiangxi and local PMOs, design agency, and task force learned local women’s needs and suggestions by means of FGD, interview, etc. 1) Women’s demand for wastewater treatment is stronger. There is a clear gender-based division of labor in the project area. Women are the main force of domestic water use and wastewater disposal. When asked “Which member of your family disposes of domestic wastewater most often?”, 71.1% of the respondents choose young woman, 21.1% choose old woman, totaling 92.2%, and only 7.9% choose man (old woman: 0%). See Figure 8-4. 69 Figure 8-4 Distribution of samples in Xiushui County by gender and role in wastewater treatment 2) Women’s support for tap water supply is slightly weaker than that of men. Since women do more housework, the Project will affect women much more than men in terms of tap water supply. 83.6% of the female respondents support the Project, where the support rate in Linchuan District is the highest, being 100%. However, women in the other 6 project counties (districts) support the Project less strongly than men, because free self-owned water sources exist there, and they think that tap water will increase their financial burden. However, men support the Project more strongly because they are better educated and work outside, and have deeper experiences of the safety and convenience of tap water. See Table 8-4. Table 8-4 Project awareness of samples by gender County Supporting Not supporting Don’t care Gender (district) Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Dongxiang Male 26 96.3% 0 0% 1 3.7% District Female 23 82.1% 0 0% 5 17.9% Jinxi Male 33 91.7% 0 0% 3 8.3% County Female 30 83.3% 1 2.8% 5 13.9% Male 26 92.9% 1 3.6% 1 3.6% Leping City Female 20 80% 1 4% 4 16% Linchuan Male 4 57.1% 1 14.3% 2 28.6% District Female 4 100% 0 0% 0 0% Nanfeng Male 27 90% 0 0% 3 10% County Female 11 84.6% 0 0% 2 15.4% Xiushui Male 20 95.2% 0 0% 1 4.8% County Female 14 82.4% 1 5.9% 2 11.8% Yongxin Male 25 89.3% 0 0% 3 10.7% County Female 20 87% 0 0% 3 13% Male 161 91% 2 1.1% 14 7.9% Total Female 122 83.6% 3 2.1% 21 14.4% 3) Women expect more employment and income growth opportunities from the Project. Some unskilled jobs will be generated at the construction and operation stages. Such jobs are mostly close to living areas, and are therefore expected by local women. 66.4% of the female respondents are willing to get employed under the Project, ranging from 84.6% (Nanfeng County) to 25% (Linchuan District). See Table 8-5. Table 8-5 Expectations for employment of samples County Willing Unwilling Don’t know Gender (district) Population Percent Population Percent Population Percent Dongxian Male 22 81.5% 3 11.1% 2 7.4% g District Female 16 57.1% 4 14.3% 8 28.6% Jinxi Male 32 88.9% 1 2.8% 3 8.3% County Female 27 75% 6 16.7% 3 8.3% Leping Male 23 82.1% 1 3.6% 4 14.3% City Female 16 64% 0 0% 9 36% Linchuan Male 3 42.9% 3 42.9% 1 14.3% District Female 1 25% 2 50% 1 25% Nanfeng Male 26 86.7% 1 3.3% 3 10% County Female 11 84.6% 0 0% 2 15.4% Xiushui Male 17 81% 4 19% 0 0% 70 County Female 11 64.7% 4 23.5% 2 11.8% Yongxin Male 19 67.9% 6 21.4% 3 10.7% County Female 15 65.2% 7 30.4% 1 4.3% Male 142 80.2% 19 21.4% 3 10.7% Total Female 97 66.4% 23 15.8% 26 17.8% Source: fieldwork Interview 8-2: women’s FGD in Meixi Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County We are willing to do jobs generated by the Project. We are poorly educated, and would do farm work and housework at ordinary times. We cannot work outside like men, because we have to take care of old people and children at home, but we want to earn some money in this way. Interview 8-3: women’s head of Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County In our village, almost all farm work and housework is done by women, mostly middle-aged or old women. Young men are mostly working in the county town. However, farming is tiring and not profitable, so many women stay at home to take care of children and old people. If the Project could offer some jobs, the employment problem of women in our village will be solved to some extent. 4) Women have strong demand for public participation. It can be seen from above that local women’s social status is still lower than that of men, and participate in such public activities as compensation receipt, environmental education, health publicity, water conservation and wastewater treatment training, and community meetings at a low level. Local women are generally willing to participate in such activities, and expect that greater attention be paid to their needs and interests in such activities. 8.4 Impacts of the Project on women 8.4.1 Positive impacts 1) Increasing women’s job opportunities and income Some unskilled jobs generated at the construction and operation stages will be first made available to women, poor people and other vulnerable groups. In addition, the Project will improve the rural living environment, thereby promoting local tourism development and generating related jobs, such as hotel and restaurant service, cleaning, and tour guidance. 2) Encouraging women’s participation, and promoting women’s development The Bank always encourages the participation of women, and pays attention to the protection of women’s rights and interests. During project implementation, a maintenance tam for integrated urban and rural water supply will be established in each affected village, in which not less than 30% of members will be women, thereby further involving women in the Project, and creating more development opportunities to them. In addition, special skills training and health publicity activities will be conducted for women to improve their environmental and health awareness, and promote their long-term development. The survey shows that the female respondents are highly willing to participate in such public activities. 3) Reducing women’s labor intensity The Project will eliminate women’s need to take water from wells, mountain springs or rivers, or buy bottled water, thereby reducing their labor intensity. On the other hand, the Project will make 71 wastewater disposal more convenient for women. 4) Reducing waterborne diseases Local women are the main force of housework, and often use tap water and dispose of domestic wastewater. The exposure to substandard tap water or wastewater will increase their probability of suffering from waterborne diseases. The Project will help improve the local water environment, and reduce women’s exposure to substandard tap water or wastewater, thereby reducing waterborne diseases and potential medical expenses, and improving women’s physical health. 46.4% of the female respondents think that the Project will reduce diseases. 8.4.2 Negative impacts Although the Project will benefit women in some aspects, if social gender sensitivity is insufficient at the design, construction and operation stages, women’s needs may be neglected or their benefits from the Project reduced. The main risks include: 1) Women’s participation level in the Project is low, and their needs are likely to be ignored. Local women’s social status is still lower than that of men. Most major family decisions are made by men, and most participants in public affairs are still men. Thus, women’s needs and suggestions are likely to be ignored at the design, construction and operation stages. 2) Women’s rights in receiving compensation and getting employed can hardly be protected. In compensation distribution, some women cannot sign to receive compensation because they are not household heads. Therefore, they are likely to be passive in using compensation. At the construction and operation stages, female laborers are likely to be treated unfairly, such as recruitment, reward and labor protection. Interview 8-4: Head of Luoxi Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County In our rural areas, family affairs are mostly decided by men, and village meetings are mostly attended by men, because women cannot make decisions. 3) Women’s agricultural income is reduced due to LA. LA under the Project may affect women’s living standard directly because land-based income will be reduced, and farm products have to be bought from the market. If land-appropriated women cannot find suitable jobs, their income will be reduced, and their financial burden increased. 4) Increased water and wastewater treatment charges will increase women’s financial burden. After project completion, rural residents will be faced with water charges, wastewater treatment charges and house connection costs, thereby increasing the expenditure of local residents, including women. In addition, some jobs offered by the Project are temporary, and female laborers will have to find other jobs after project completion, resulting in short-term income fluctuation. The Gender Action Plan and Social Action Plan of the Project have been developed in consultation with the PMOs, IAs, local women’s federations and other agencies concerned. See Table 9-1 in Chapter 9. 72 9 Social Action Plan and Implementation 9.1 Social Action Plan For the potential negative impacts of the Project, the task force has developed the Social Action Plan based on the fieldwork and through consultation with stakeholders. 1) Reducing LA risks A) Develop a detailed RAP; B) Pay special attention to the income restoration of vulnerable groups in the RAP. 2) Avoiding construction impacts on local residents A) Lay pipelines along flat terrains, and avoid living areas where possible; B) Strengthen the supervision over material sources to ensure construction quality, and establish a pipeline maintenance mechanism to avoid bursting; C) Conduct publicity before construction, and carry out construction in segments to minimize impacts on nearby stores; D) Take measures to control noise; E) Sprinkle access roads regularly to prevent flying dust; F) Set up non-horning signs in densely populated areas, and avoid overnight construction where possible. 3) Guiding villagers to treat the Project properly, and reducing the damage to interior decoration A) Strengthen publicity on the Project to guide villagers to use tap water and treatment facilities voluntarily; B) Optimize the design of water supply and sewer pipelines in consultation with villagers to minimize the damage to interior decoration; C) For any inevitable damage, conduct functional restoration or offer compensation properly. 4) Establishing a maintenance mechanism to avoid subsequent risks A) Appoint staff for system operation and maintenance, and offer professional training during 18-month trial operation; B) Keep the staff stable and assign responsibilities clearly; C) Establish appeal and supervision mechanisms, and contact points above the village level, and involve villagers in project supervision. 5) Conducting option comparison to reduce the financial burden of village collectives A) Conduct option comparison in consideration of operation and maintenance costs; B) Exempt or reduce system operation and maintenance costs for village collectives based on their financial affordability. 6) Exempting or reducing charges for vulnerable groups A) Develop preferential policies on water charges and wastewater treatment charges for poor population; B) Hold a public hearing when adjusting water and wastewater treatment rates. 7) Addressing the impact on power generation properly A) Coordinate interests between water supply companies and hydropower stations, and offer rational compensation; B) Develop compensation measures based on practical conditions to make up losses arising from water supply. 8) Expanding publicity and education to prevent social risks A) Strengthen publicity and education on public health and AIDS prevention; B) Include education on public health and AIDS prevention in construction contracts for effective performance; C) Establish a physical checkup mechanism for construction staff (i.e., setting up temporary infirmaries and utilizing local medical resources); D) Conduct diversified publicity on AIDS prevention (brochure, poster, album, etc.); E) Conduct publicity on local social and cultural customs to reduce potential conflicts. The Gender Action Plan and Social Action Plan of the Project have been developed in 73 consultation with the PMOs, IAs, local women’s federations and other agencies concerned. See Table 9-1. 74 Table 9-1Social Action Plan and Gender Action Plan Risk Measures or actions Actors Time Funding Monitoring indicators 1. Insufficient a) Strengthen publicity on the Project to guide villagers to PMOs, design Preparation, Project budget, a) Project publicity materials, publicity frequency project use tap water and treatment facilities voluntarily; agency, township construction, government and sign-in form of participants; awareness b) Strengthen project information disclosure; governments, village operation finance b) Time, location and participants of publicity; and c) Optimize the design of water supply and sewer committees, villagers c) Grievances about interior decoration damage participation pipelines in consultation with villagers; and handling; d) For any inevitable damage, conduct functional d) Number of villagers recognized restoration or offer compensation properly; e) Set villagers with good water conservation and environmental awareness as examples. 2. LA risks a) Develop a detailed RAP; PMOs, owner, RAP Preparation, Project budget a) RAP b) Pay special attention to the income restoration of preparation agency, construction vulnerable groups in the RAP. external M&E agency 3. a) Lay pipelines along flat terrains, and avoid living areas PMOs, contractor Preparation, Budget of the a) Pipeline routing and distance from living Construction where possible; construction Environmental areas; risks b) Avoid the busy season of farming; Management b) Construction time and disbursement of c) Conduct publicity before construction, and carry out Plan compensation; construction in segments; c) Modes and frequency of publicity; d) Take measures to control noise; d) Grievances about environmental pollution and e) Sprinkle access roads regularly to prevent flying dust; handling; f) Set up non-horning signs in densely populated areas, e) Inclusion of construction safety management and avoid overnight construction where possible; in construction contracts, and safety awareness g) Strengthen the supervision over material sources to publicity and education; ensure construction quality, and establish a pipeline f) Number of signs and repaired public facilities; maintenance mechanism. g) Material quality and maintenance mechanism 4. a) Appoint staff for system operation and maintenance, PMOs, owner, village Preparation, Project budget, a) Time and scope of training; Maintenance and offer professional training; committees, villagers construction, township and b) Stability of operation and maintenance staff; staff and b) Keep the staff stable and assign responsibilities clearly; operation village finance c) Establishment of appeal and supervision training, and c) Establish appeal and supervision mechanisms, and mechanisms, and contact points above the option contact points above the village level; village level; comparison d) Conduct option comparison in consideration of d) Project design operation and maintenance costs. 5. Ability to a) Develop preferential policies on water charges and Water supply Operation Government a) Number of persons covered by preferential pay of wastewater treatment charges for poor population; companies, civil finance policies, and amount exempted; vulnerable b) Hold a public hearing when adjusting water and affairs bureaus b) Time, location and participants of the public groups wastewater treatment rates. hearing 6. Women’s a) Not less than 40% of participants in public participation Design agency, Construction, Project budget, a) Number of public participation activities, participation activities at the preparation stage should be women; contractor, PMOs, operation government number of female participants, and minutes; 75 b) Not less than 30% of members of village maintenance county / district finance b) Number and proportion of female members, teams should be women; agencies concerned, feedback and suggestions; c) Compensation should be received after signature by a township c) Signature of women; couple; governments, village d) Number of female members in project d) Each project agency (PMOs, water supply companies, committees, local agencies; sewerage companies, etc.) should have at least two women, poor people e) Time, location and mode of publicity and female members; training e) Conduct project publicity at times and locations, and in forms suitable for women; f) Tailor publicity to women’s cognition; g) Give publicity and training on water conservation and tap water use to women. 7. Job a) Make unskilled jobs first available to women and other PMOs, contractor, Construction Contractor a) Number of vulnerable people doing unskilled opportunities vulnerable groups. labor and social budget jobs at the construction stage; for vulnerable b) Ensure equal pay to equal work. security bureau, b) Number of vulnerable people doing public groups village committees, welfare jobs at the operation stage local women 8. Women’s a) Recruit some female members for PMOs for the PMOs, contractor, Construction Contractor a) Number of vulnerable people doing unskilled employment convenience of women-related work; labor and social budget jobs at the construction stage; in IAs b) Employ a certain number of female workers for water security bureau, b) Number of vulnerable people doing public supply companies, such as meter readers and village committees, welfare jobs at the operation stage; coordinators, running maintenance staff, toll collector, etc. local women c) Location, scope and frequency of female c) Offer training for women’s recruitment and employment. employees 9. Impact on a) Coordinate interests between water supply companies Owners, PMOs, Construction Project budget, a) Compensation measures between water power and hydropower stations, and offer rational compensation; water supply profit of water supply companies and hydropower stations; generation b) Develop compensation measures based on practical companies, power supply b) Annual amount of compensation and payment conditions to make up losses arising from water supply. generation company companies 10. Social a) Strengthen publicity and education on public health and Contractors, local Construction Project budget, a) Provisions of construction contract, and risks AIDS prevention; agencies concerned, budgets of implementation; b) Include education on public health and AIDS prevention owners, enterprises, local agencies b) Number of participants in training on public in construction contracts for effective performance; township concerned health and AIDS prevention; c) Establish a physical checkup mechanism for governments, village c) Number of health centers; construction staff (i.e., setting up temporary infirmaries committees d) Quantities of publicity materials on AIDS and utilizing local medical resources); prevention at the construction stage; d) Conduct diversified publicity on AIDS prevention e) Quantities of publicity materials on local social (brochure, poster, album, etc.); and cultural customs at the construction stage e) Conduct publicity on local social and cultural customs to reduce potential conflicts. 76 9.2 Public Participation Plan The following information disclosure and public participation plan has been developed on the basis of the fieldwork through participatory observation. See Table 9-2. (See the Beneficiary Participation Handbook prepared separately for the Project for details.) Table 9- 2 Public Participation Plan of the Project Stage Item Modes Actors Participants Rules and measures of participation Funding Public Leaflet PMOs Local residents (esp. in Disseminating project information to increase project 10,000 yuan awareness distribution, media Local governments project villages), township awareness; per township coverage, village Village committees officials, PMOs, Design and Disclosing the scope of construction and village selection congress, etc. Design and consulting agencies criteria, and conducting a selection willingness survey; consulting Strengthening public participation through the design and agencies consulting agencies Project consultation (FGD PMOs PMOs, design agency, Conducting a project coordination meeting with the design Feasibility study design with villager Design agency township governments, agency, township governments, and village committees; budget disclosure, reps.), design Township Village committees, villager Discussing the feasibility of the project design with village optimization disclosure governments, reps. (esp. in project villages) committees and villager reps.; and Village committees, Disclosing the preliminary design at village bulletin boards comparison villager reps. for comments for not less than two weeks Demand and Village congress, PMOs PMOs, design and consulting Conducting a sampling survey on local residents’ demand 4,000 yuan per Preparation acceptance DMS, sampling Design and agencies, township for and acceptance of the Project; township levels survey consulting governments, Village Strengthening communications with local residents, and agencies committees, villager reps. learning their attitudes and comments Village committees (esp. in project villages) Construction Prior consultation, PMOs PMOs, township Conducting extensive informed consultation with local 4,000 yuan per site selection survey, interview, Design agency governments, Village residents based on the design drawings; township FGD, disclosure Township committees, residents, design Determining construction sites and coverage governments agency, consulting agency Village committees Local residents Ability and Baseline survey, PMOs PMOs, design agency, Learning local residents’ ability and willingness to pay 4,000 yuan per willingness questionnaire Design agency consulting agency, township water charges through a baseline survey; township to pay survey, interview, Township governments, Village Identifying potential issues, and proposing pertinent FGD with villager governments committees, residents suggestions and measures reps. Village committees Local residents Publicity and Leaflet PMOs PMOs, township Giving publicity on the scope of construction and mode of 8,000 yuan per 77 education distribution, media Local governments governments, Village water supply; township (project coverage, village Township committees, residents Communicating the benefits of water supply; benefits) congress, school governments Communicating the benefits of wastewater treatment and community Village committees publicity Local residents Participation Information PMOs, township PMOs, culture and broadcast Disclosing the participation framework for social 10,000 yuan framework disclosure, public governments bureau, township assessment; per township for social opinion creation Village committees governments, Village Disclosing the procedure and mode of implementation; per annum assessment and guidance, Village supervision committees Breaking down tasks under the framework framework committees, Village supervision finalization residents committees, local residents Training on Participation PMOs PMOs, township Training county and township officials on the handbook; 20,000 yuan participation handbook training Township governments, Village Training village and group officials on the handbook; per township handbook by level and batch governments committees, Village Training members of village supervision committees on per annum Village committees supervision committees, local their rights and obligations; Village supervision residents, consulting agency Training on operation and maintenance; committees Supervision and management measures Local residents Construction Villager congress, PMOs PMOs, construction agency, Regular reporting of construction progress, site Internal budgets information construction Construction Village committees, Village distribution and negative impacts, and safety protection by of construction Construction disclosure information agency supervision committees, local the construction agency agency disclosure Village committees residents Posting construction notices with the assistance of village committees for comments for not less than two weeks Successful Publicity, PMOs Construction agency, Village Guiding villagers to get connected voluntarily; 10,000 yuan house education, Construction committees, Village Making water supply and drainage connection per township connection coordination, agency supervision committees, local arrangements properly; per annum Village supervision guidance, quality residents Consulting local residents on indoor pipeline modification; supervision committees Supervising connection and installation quality Local residents LA Execution of PMOs PMOs Determining sites of waterworks and wastewater RAP budget compensation Land and Land and resources bureau treatment plants; agreements, resources bureau Township governments Obtaining land use formalities; payment of funds, Township Village committees Entering into compensation agreements with AHs, and land handover governments APs granting compensation accordingly; Village committees Completing land use formalities and obtaining land APs Reduction of Improving relevant PMOs PMOs, construction agency Allowing for the passage of local residents during road 5,000 yuan per construction programs, and Construction Transport bureau, traffic excavation; township per impacts developing agency police, environmental Taking dust and noise reduction measures; annum; internal 78 effective mitigation Village supervision protection bureau Keeping away from residential areas where possible; budgets of measures committees Village supervision Identifying impacts of temporary land occupation construction committees, villager reps. agency Participation Offering PMOs PMOs, construction agency Recruiting workers from local residents and training them; 10,000 yuan in compensated Construction Village supervision Supervising connection and installation quality, and giving per township construction services, and agency committees feedback (by village supervision committees) per annum supervising house Village supervision Villager reps., local workers connection and committees installation quality Villagers Employment Local residents’ PMOs Construction agency, Not less than 35% of workers being local laborers, Internal budgets of local labor participation in Construction Village supervision including women and the poor of construction (incl. construction, agency committees Making unskilled jobs first available to vulnerable groups agency women) operation and Village supervision Local workers (incl. women, (including women), and granting pays not less than the maintenance committees the poor) local minimum wage standard; Local residents Offering employment training to local laborers Management Expanding safety PMOs PMOs, construction agency Conducting education on public health and AIDS 5,000 yuan per of migrant and health Construction Health bureau, township and prevention, and including this in construction contracts; township per workers publicity, agency community hospitals Conducting physical checkups for construction workers; annum; internal regulating worker Health bureau Village committees, Village Strengthen publicity on local social and cultural customs budgets of education and Village supervision supervision committees for non-local workers to reduce potential conflicts construction management committees Migrant workers, residents agency Local residents ParticipationVillage PMOs PMOs, Water supply Conducting inspection and reporting on water supply and 8,000 yuan per in water supervision Village committees company wastewater management; township per supply and committees’ Village supervision Village committees, Village Guiding villagers to use safe and stable tap water; annum wastewater participation in committees supervision committees Inspecting the operation of wastewater treatment facilities management habit education, Residents Local residents regularly, and giving effective feedback; and facility Reporting identified issues timely, and establishing a maintenance and supervision and punishment mechanism for improper Operation management wastewater disposal in villages Labor Selection of PMOs PMOs, labor and social Selecting village-level maintenance staff (by township 6,000 yuan per recruitment, village Water supply security bureau governments and village supervision committees); township per training and maintenance staff, company Water supply company Providing labor safety and skills training to recruited annum safety labor safety, Village committees Village supervision system operation and maintenance staff; education health and skills Village supervision committees Developing an annual work plan for labor and health training and committees Locally recruit employees knowledge publicity and education, and organizing education Residents training and workshops for recruited laborers Improvement Training and Water supply Water supply company Holding a water conservation workshop for local residents 10,000 yuan of public publicity on water company Village committees to help them develop good water-saving habits; per township 79 water conservation Village committees Village supervision Communicating the necessity of paying water charges, per annum conservation awareness, and Village supervision committees and establishing a water rate public hearing system, and awareness, water charge committees Local residents offering multiple convenient payment modes and payment payment Residents of water charges Supervision Establishing a Water supply Water supply company Establishing a routine water quality and quantity 6,000 yuan per of water routine water company Village supervision supervision and feedback mechanism, and handling township per quality, quality and Village committees committees feedback timely to motivate villagers; annum pipeline quantity Village supervision Local residents Conducting regular and irregular inspection on local water protection supervision and committees supply and sewer networks to build up the sense of feedback Residents ownership of local residents mechanism According to the specific scope of beneficiary participation at the design, construction and operation stages, the budget for public participation is 13.5 million yuan. See Table 9-3. Table 9- 3 Public Participation Budget Total No. Stage Amount (0,000 yuan) (0,000 Remarks yuan) Water supply component: 30,000 yuan per township x 47 township x 1 year = 1.41 million yuan The wastewater 1 Design 150 Wastewater treatment component: 90,000 yuan per township x 1 township x 1 year =90,000 treatment is a pilot Water supply component: 60,000 yuan per township x 47 townships x 3 years =8.46 million component, and its 2 Construction 900 Wastewater treatment component: 180,000 yuan per township x 1 township x 3 years =540,000 participation costs are 3 Water supply component: 30,000 yuan per township x 47 townships x 2 years = 2.82 million yuan times those of the water 3 Operation 300 supply component. Wastewater treatment component: 90,000 yuan per township x 1 township x 2 years =180,000 Total 1350 / 80 10 Grievance Redress and M&E 10.1 Grievance Redress During the preparation and implementation of the Project, residents are a direct stakeholder and also direct participants. Since some unforeseeable issues may occur, a transparent and effective grievance redress mechanism should be established to ensure that residents participate actively and extensively. See Figure 10-1. Local residents may file grievances and appeals with village committees, township governments, PMOs or competent authorities, which have dedicated staff or departments for handling and feedback. Village committee Stage 1: Proposing a grievance or suggestion Township government Local PMO or agency Stage 2: concerned The accepting agency handles and gives feedback within 15 days. Jiangxi PMO or agency concerned Stage 3: The disposition is registered if accepted, or an appeal is filed with the next higher level. Figure 10-1 Grievance Redress Flowchart 10.2 M&E M&E is an important way to ensure that the Project is implemented as planned, and the Social Action Plan is implemented properly. M&E is also an important error-correcting and participation mechanism for the Project. In view of this, an M&E mechanism has been established for the Project, including internal supervision and external M&E. Internal supervision is conducted by the PMO on project implementation progress, the implementation of the Social Action Plan, progress of information disclosure and public participation, fund use, the implementation of rules and regulations, etc. An internal supervision report will be submitted semiannually. The PMO will appoint an independent M&E agency to conduct external M&E on the implementation of the Social Action Plan. The external M&E agency will conduct regular M&E, give advice, and submit M&E reports to the Bank semiannually. 81 Appendix 1: Public Participation at the Project Preparation Stage Time Subject Participants Details Remarks 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young (<30 years): 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 middle aged (30-55 years): 1, elderly (>55 years): 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Xunyi Village Committee Dec. 23, 2016, Zhengcun villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Xunyi 14:00-17:30 Xiang, Xiushui village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Village pm County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 3 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 3, incl. young: 1, elderly: 2 The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Laixi Village, Dec. 26, 2016, 1 vulnerable, 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 1: holding FGS at the Laixi Village Committee Laixi Town, 14:00-17:30 villager reps., 1 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 1 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Laixi Nanfeng pm village head, disabled) Village County totaling 10 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 3 Shishan 2 women, 4 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 2, incl. middle-aged: 1, elderly: 1 The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Village, 2 vulnerable, 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 4 Group 1: holding FGS at the Shishan Village Dec. 27, 2016, Shishan Town, villager reps., 3 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Committee 9:30-11:00 am Nanfeng village heads, disabled; 1 poor) Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 13 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 Shishan Village 3 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 3, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Meixi Village, Dec. 27, 2016, 1 vulnerable, 2 elderly: 1 Group 1: holding FGS at the Meixi Village Committee Shishan Town, 14:00-16:30 villager reps., 1 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Meixi Nanfeng pm village head, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 1 (poor) Village County totaling 10 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 3 Wenzhu 2 women, 2 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 2, incl. young: 1, elderly: 1 The task force (4 persons) worked successively: Village, 2 vulnerable, 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Wenzhu Village Dec. 28, 2016, Wenzhu Town, villager reps., 1 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (2 physically Committee 9:00-11:30 am Yongxin village head, disabled) Second: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 9 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 3 Wenzhu Village 2 women, 2 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 2, incl. young: 1, elderly: 1 The task force (4 persons) worked successively: Shitian Street, 2 vulnerable, 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at Shitianjie Group Dec. 28, 2016, Wenzhu Town, villager reps., 1 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (2 physically Second: questionnaire survey and interviews in 9:00-11:30 am Yongxin village head, disabled) Shitianjie Group County totaling 9 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 3 2 women, 4 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 2, incl. young: 2 The task force (4 persons) worked successively: Luoxi Village, Dec. 29, 2016, 2 vulnerable, 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 4 Group 1: holding FGS at the Luoxi Village Committee Shashi Town, 16:30-17:30 villager reps., 1 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Second: questionnaire survey and interviews in Luoxi Yongxin pm village head, disabled; 1 poor) Village County totaling 11 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 3 82 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (4 persons) worked successively: Longnan Dec. 30, 2016, 1 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Longnan Village Village, Shashi 16:30-17:30 villager reps., 1 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Town, Yongxin pm village head, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 1 (1 poor) Second: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 12 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 4 Longnan Village 3 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 3, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 3 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 1 Group 1: holding FGS at the Putian Village Committee Zhajin Town, Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Xiushui Mar. 5, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 3 (1 physically Putian Village County totaling 14 disabled; 2 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Qingbanqiao Village Ma’ao Town, Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Xiushui Mar. 5, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Qingbanqiao Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Yangkeng Village Shankou Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Town, Xiushui Mar. 5, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Yangkeng Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Aoshang Village Gangkou Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Town, Xiushui Mar. 5, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Aoshang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Daqiao Village Daqiao Town, Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Xiushui Mar. 6, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Daqiao Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Xigang Town, Morning of 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Zhoujiazhuang Village Xiushui Mar. 6, 2017 villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee County village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in 83 totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Zhoujiazhuang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Shangdian Village Qiawan Town, Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Nanfeng Mar. 7, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Shangdian Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Xicun Village Committee County town of Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Xicun Nanfeng Mar. 7, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Village County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Xiangxing Village Xiangxing Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Xiang, Yongxin Mar. 7, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Xiangxing Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Zhongzhou Village Zaizhong Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Xiang, Yongxin Mar. 7, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Zhongzhou Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Gaoxi Village Committee Gaoxi Xiang, Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Gaoxi Yongxin Mar. 8, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Village County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Hengxi Village Longyuankou Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Town, Yongxin Mar. 8, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Hengxi Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 Afternoon of Luxi Xiang, 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 84 Mar. 8, 2017 Yongxin 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Luxi Village Committee County villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Luxi village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Village totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Longtian Village Longtian Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Xiang, Yongxin Mar. 8, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Longtian Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Long’an Village County town of Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Yongxin Mar. 9, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Long’an Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Lyufang Village County town of Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Linchuan Mar. 10, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Lyufang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Guanbian Village Morning of County town of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 12, 2017 Jinxi County village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Guanbian Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Hewan Village Huangtong Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Xiang, Jinxi Mar. 12, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in County totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Hewan Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Chenfangji Afternoon of 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Chenfangji Village Xiang, Jinxi Mar. 12, 2017 villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee County village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in 85 totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Chenfangji Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Zhangfang Village County town of Morning of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Dongxiang Mar. 13, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Zhangfang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Xiaohuang 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Yanghu Village Morning of Town, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 13, 2017 Dongxiang village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Yanghu Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Beizhuang Village Bogan Xiang, Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Dongxiang Mar. 13, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Beizhuang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Shangyang Village Dengjia Xiang, Afternoon of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Dongxiang Mar. 13, 2017 village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Shangyang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Weishangqiao 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Houxi Village Committee Morning of Town, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Houxi Mar. 14, 2017 Dongxiang village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Village District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Xiaogang 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Yaoshang Village Morning of Town, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 14, 2017 Dongxiang village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in District totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Yaoshang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 Afternoon of Gangshangji 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 86 Mar. 14, 2017 Town, 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Dongyuan Village Dongxiang villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee District village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Dongyuan Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Miaoxiangxia Community County town of villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 16, 2017 Leping City village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Miaoxiangxia Community 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at Xiaokeng Forest Farm Hongyan villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Mar. 17, 2017 Town, Leping village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Xiaokeng Forest Farm City totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Longkou Village Luci Xiang, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 20, 2017 Leping City village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Longkou Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Kuqian Village Zhenqiao villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 21, 2017 Town, Leping village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in City totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Kuqian Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Dayuan Village Wukou Town, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 22, 2017 Leping City village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Dayuan Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: Yongshan 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Donggang Village Mar. 23, 2017 Town, Leping villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee City village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in 87 totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Donggang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Zhongbao Village Lingang Town, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 24, 2017 Leping City village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Zhongbao Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Shiping Village Zhongbu villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 27, 2017 Town, Leping village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in City totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Shiping Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Nangang Village Shiligang villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Committee Mar. 28, 2017 Town, Leping village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in City totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) Nangang Village 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 4 women, 3 elderly, 1) Women’s FGD: 4, incl. young: 1, middle-aged: 1, The task force (8 persons) worked in two groups: 2 vulnerable, 3 elderly: 2 Group 1: holding FGS at the Puli Village Committee Lilin Town, villager reps., 2 2) Old people’s FGD: 3 Group 2: questionnaire survey and interviews in Puli Mar. 29, 2017 Leping City village heads, 3) Vulnerable groups’ FGD: 2 (1 physically Village totaling 14 disabled; 1 poor) 4) FGD with village officials and villagers’ reps.: 5 88 Appendix 2: Summary of FGDs with Government Agencies and Entities Time Agencies Participants Details Morning of Agencies Heads of the county land and resources bureau, Heads of agencies Dec. 22, concerned of PMO, house administration bureau, LA management concerned 2016 Xiushui County office, and labor and social security bureau Afternoon Zhengcun Xiang 3 persons, including deputy Xiang head Shen Staff of the Xiang of Dec. 22, Government, Qizhao government 2016 Xiushui County Morning of Agencies 3 officials of statistics bureau, 4 officials of civil affairs Heads of agencies Dec. 23, concerned of bureau, 3 officials of poverty reduction office, 2 concerned 2016 Xiushui County officials of women’s federation Afternoon 5 persons, including leader in charge Guan Hao, Runquan Water Senior management of Dec. 23, Customer Manager Kuang, and installation branch Supply Co., Ltd. members 2016 manager Huang Morning of Agencies Heads of the county land and resources bureau, Heads of agencies Dec. 26, concerned of PMO, house administration bureau, LA management concerned 2016 Nanfeng County office, and poverty reduction office Officials of women’s 2 officials of women’s federation, 2 officials of Morning of Agencies federation, statistics statistics bureau, 3 officials of civil affairs bureau, 3 Dec. 27, concerned of bureau, civil affairs officials of labor and social security bureau 2016 Nanfeng County bureau and labor and social security bureau Shishan Town 3 officials of the Shishan Town Government Morning of and Laixi Xiang 4 officials of the Laixi Xiang Government Dec. 28, Government officials Governments, 2016 Nanfeng County 2 officials of county land and resources bureau, 3 Morning of Agencies Heads of agencies officials of statistics bureau, 2 officials of labor and Dec. 29, concerned of concerned social security bureau, 2 officials of poverty reduction 2016 Yongxin County office, 2 officials of PMO Morning of Agencies 1 official of women’s federation, 2 officials of Heads and staff of Dec. 30, concerned of environmental protection bureau, 3 officials of civil agencies concerned 2016 Yongxin County affairs bureau Officials of women’s 2 officials of women’s federation, 2 officials of Agencies federation, statistics statistics bureau, 3 officials of civil affairs bureau, 3 Mar. 10, concerned of bureau, civil affairs officials of labor and social security bureau 2017 Linchuan District bureau and labor and social security bureau Officials of women’s 2 officials of women’s federation, 2 officials of Agencies federation, statistics statistics bureau, 3 officials of civil affairs bureau, 3 Mar. 12, concerned of bureau, civil affairs officials of labor and social security bureau 2017 Jinxi County bureau and labor and social security bureau Officials of women’s 2 officials of women’s federation, 2 officials of Agencies federation, statistics statistics bureau, 3 officials of civil affairs bureau, 3 Mar. 13-14, concerned of bureau, civil affairs officials of labor and social security bureau 2017 Dongxiang bureau and labor and District social security bureau Officials of women’s 2 officials of women’s federation, 2 officials of Agencies federation, statistics statistics bureau, 3 officials of civil affairs bureau, 3 Mar. 16-29, concerned of bureau, civil affairs officials of labor and social security bureau 2017 Leping City bureau and labor and social security bureau 89 Appendix 3: Summary of Interviewees Chapter Interviewee Interview 3-1: Mr. Rao, Donggang Village, Weishangqiao Town, Dongxiang District (42 years) 3 Interview 3-2: Mr. Xie, Yangkeng Village, Shankou Town, Xiushui County (42 years) Interview 4-1: Mr. Li, Xunyi Village, Zhengcun Xiang, Xiushui County (50 years) Interview 4-2: Ms Liang, Xunyi Village, Zhengcun Xiang, Xiushui County (53 years) Interview 4-3: Ms Wang, Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County (46 years) Interview 4-4: Ms Hong, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (40 years) Interview 4-5: villager, Shangzhang Group of Chenfang Village, Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County Interview 4-6: Mr. Han, Shishan Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County (37 years) Interview 4-7: Ms Zou, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (48 years) Interview 4-8: Ms Wang, Xialonggang Group of Zhangfang Village, Xiaogang Town, Dongxiang District (33 years) Interview 4-9: Ms Fan, Yangqiao Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (43 years) Interview 4-10: Ms Xu, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (38 years) Interview 4-11: Mr. Chen, Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County (35 years) Interview 4-12: Ms Zhao, Shishan Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County (38 years) Interview 4-13: Mr. Li, Luoxi Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County (49 years) 4 Interview 4-14: Mr. Li, Yongxin County (50 years) Interview 4-15: villager, market town of Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County Interview 4-16: Xu XX, Lyufang Village, Shangdundu Town, Linchuan District (68 years) Interview 4-17: Mr. Zheng, Meixi Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County (60 years) Interview 4-18: Ms He, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (44 years) Interview 4-19: villager, Shangzhang Group of Chenfang Village, Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County Interview 4-20: Mr. Chen, Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County (55 years) Interview 4-21: Mr. Zou, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (39 years) Interview 4-22: Head of the Lilin Waterworks, Lilin Town, Leping City Interview 4-23: Mr. Zhou, Zhajin Village, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County (54 years) Interview 4-24: Ms Li, Tianxi Village, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County (47 years) Interview 4-25: Ms Zhang, self-employer, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County (36 years) Interview 4-26: Mr. Chen, Daqiao Village, Daqiao Town, Xiushui County (43 years) Interview 4-27: Head of Xiyan Village, Zhajin Town, Xiushui County Interview 5-1: Ms Deng, market town, Dengjia Xiang, Dongxiang District (54 years) Interview 5-2: Mr. Chen, Hengxi Village, Longyuankou Town, Yongxin County (52 years) 5 Interview 5-3: Mr. Wu, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City (51 years) Interview 5-4: villager, market town of Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County Interview 5-5: villager, Shangzhang Group of Chenfang Village, Chenfangji Xiang, Jinxi County Interview 6-1: Li XX, Donggang Village, Weishangqiao Town, Dongxiang District 6 Interview 6-2: Cheng XX, MLS household, Zhoushang Village, Lilin Town, Leping City Interview 7-1: Xu XX, Group 2 of Lyufang Village, Shangdundu Town, Linchuan District (65+ years) Interview 7-2: Chen XX, Yingbin Garden, Jinxi County (18-28 years) Interview 7-3: Mr. Ye, Yejia Group of Longnan Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County 7 Interview 7-4: Ms Liu, Zhangfang Village, Xiaogang Town, Dongxiang District Interview 7-5: Liang XX, Zhoujiazhuang Village, Xigang Town, Xiushui County Interview 7-6: Huang XX, Aoshang Village, Gangkou Town, Xiushui County Interview 7-7: Chen XX, Daqiao Village, Daqiao Town, Xiushui County Interview 8-1: Wei XX, Nongminjie Village, Dengjia Xiang, Dongxiang District Interview 8-2: women’s FGD in Meixi Village, Shishan Town, Nanfeng County 8 Interview 8-3: women’s head of Laixi Village, Laixi Town, Nanfeng County Interview 8-4: Head of Luoxi Village, Shashi Town, Yongxin County 90 Appendix 4: SA Questionnaire for Households Hello! I’m a researcher from NRCR. I’m appointed by the Jiangxi PMO to conduct social assessment on the Jiangxi Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project, which aims to improve urban and rural water supply, and rural wastewater treatment in seven counties (regions). You’re a respondent sampled randomly by us, and your opinions and options are very important for us. Please give your valuable comments objectively. We will keep your personal information strictly confidential. Thank you! Qr. No.: ____________; date: _______________; researcher: _______________ Respondent: ________________; Tel: ___________ Address: _____ Group, _____ Village / Community, _____ Town / Xiang/ Sub-district, _____ County / County-level City / District, _____ City Part 1 Perceptions of and comments on village development A1 Which serious pollution problems exist in your village? (Multiple choices allowed) 1) Solid waste; 2) air; 3) wastewater; 4) noise; 5) dust; 6) other, specify A2 How do you think of the following public services? 1) Very 2) 3) Neither, 4) 5) Very 7) If very Service good Good nor Bad bad bad, why? A2.1 Wastewater collection and treatment A2.2 Sludge disposal and utilization A2.3 Lake management (e.g., water quality, landscape) A2.4 Roads A2.5 Solid waste collection and transport A2.6 Solid waste treatment A2.7 Water supply A2.8 Public transport A2.9 Education A2.10 Health A2.11 Flood protection A2.12 Other (specify) A3 Which aspects of your village need improvement? First (___); second (___); third (___) 1) Road; 2) water supply; 3) power supply; 4) domestic wastewater treatment; 5) solid waste treatment; 6) river; 7) school; 8) hospital; 9) other, specify Part 2 Rural wastewater treatment works B1What is your family’s toilet? 1) Indoor private toilet; 2) outdoor private toilet; 3) public toilet B2 If it is a private toilet, does it have a septic tank? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) not clear (skip to B3 if 2 or 3) B2.1 Where a septic tank should be located? (Skip to B2.1.1 if 1 or 2) 1) Below the toilet; 2) below the house; 3) below the ground out of the house; 4) not clear B2.1.1 Is it necessary to alter the indoor wastewater pipeline to drain dung water? 1) Very necessary; 2) Necessary; 3) not quite necessary; 4) Unnecessary; 5) don’t care 91 B3 How will the septic tank be improved? 1) Unified construction by a contractor engaged by the village committee; 2) Self-construction with supplied materials; 3) Self-construction with supplied funds; 4) other, specify ___________ B4 Does the septic tank in your village affects you and your family negatively? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know (skip to B5 if 2 or 3) B4.1 If yes, how? 1) Dung water overflow due to the lack of cleanup; 2) strong odor; 3) giving rise to mosquitoes and flies, and spreading diseases; 4) polluting rivers; 5) polluting groundwater; 6) no impact; 7) don’t know; 8) other, specify B5 How is domestic wastewater disposed of? 1) Pouring out of the door; 2) pouring into the toilet; 3) draining into the river through ditch or pipe collection; 4) draining into the river through ditch or pipe collection and treatment; 5) don’t know; 6) other, specify _______ B6 Which member of your family disposes of domestic wastewater most often? 1) Young woman; 2) young man; 3) old woman; 4) old man; 5) child B7 Are you satisfied with the current situation of your village’s wastewater treatment? 1) Very satisfied; 2) satisfied; 3) neither, nor; 4) dissatisfied; 5) very dissatisfied; 6) don’t know (skip to B8 if 1, 2 or 3) B7.1 Which difficulties are there in wastewater treatment? (Multiple choices allowed) 1) Lack of sound wastewater collection and treatment system; 2) low public environmental awareness; 3) lack of effective regulation; 4) inadequate publicity; 5) other, specify _________ B8 What negative impacts does the current situation of wastewater treatment have on you or your family? 1) emitting bad odor and affecting life; 2) giving rise to mosquitoes and flies, and affecting health; 3) polluting soil and waters; 4) affecting crop growth; 5) don’t know; 6) other, specify _________ B9 Do you think it necessary to collect and treat domestic wastewater? 1) Very necessary; 2) Necessary; 3) not quite necessary; 4) Unnecessary; 5) not clear B10 Are you willing to be connected to the sewer network? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know B11 Does your family pay wastewater treatment charges? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know (skip to B12 if 2 or 3) B11.1 If yes, _____ yuan/ton and ______ yuan per month B11.2 Are they paid together with water charges? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know B11.3 How are wastewater treatment charges paid? 1) Door-to-door collection; 2) payment at the outlet; 3) collection by the village; 4) online B12 For improved wastewater collection and treatment services, are you willing to pay ______ yuan/month (2, 5, 10, 15, 20)? 1) Yes; 2) no (skip to B12.2 if 2) B12.1 What about of wastewater treatment charges are you willing to pay? 1) 20 yuan or less; 2) 21-50 yuan; 3) 51-100 yuan; 4) over 100 yuan B12.2 Why are you willing to pay? 1) It’s reasonable; 2) It’s not much; 3) I desire this service; 4) other, specify __________ B12.3 Why are you unwilling to get this service? 1) I cannot afford it; 2) It’s just worth so much; 3) I don’t want to pay for it; 4) It should be borne by the government; 5) other, specify _____________ B13 Are you willing to pay for sewer house collection? 1) Yes; 2) no (skip to C1 if 2) 92 B13.1 If you’re willing to pay, you are willing to pay up to ______ yuan. 1) Over 1,000 yuan; 2) 801-1,000 yuan; 3) 501-800 yuan; 4) 301-500 yuan; 5) 101-300 yuan; 6) 100 yuan or less Part 3 Integrated urban and rural water supply works C1 Your family’s main domestic water source is _____. 1) Tap water; 2) well water; 3) river / lake; 4) bottled water; 5) other, specify _________ C2 Is tap water paid for? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know 3 C2.1 What’s its rate? _____ yuan/m 1) 1 yuan or less; 2) 1-1.5 yuan; 3) 1.6-2 yuan; 4) above 2 yuan C2.2 Your family pays _____ yuan per month. 1) 10 yuan or less; 2) 10-30 yuan; 3) 31 -50 yuan; 4) above 50 yuan C3 What’s your attitude to the current water rate? 1) Too high; 2) a bit high; 3) reasonable; 4) low; 5) very low; 6) not clear C4 Are you satisfied with tap water? 1) Very satisfied; 2) satisfied; 3) neither, nor; 4) dissatisfied; 5) very dissatisfied; 6) don’t know C4.1 If not, why? (Multiple choices allowed) 1) Unstable supply; 2) bad quality; 3) not clear; 4) other, specify _________ C4.2 Do you support the Project? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) not clear C4.3 Are you willing to pay water charges of ______ yuan/month for routine maintenance (2, 5, 10, 15, 20)? 1) Yes (skip to C4.3.1); 2) no C4.3.1 You’re willing to pay _____ yuan/month? 1) below 2 yuan; 2) 2-5 yuan; 3) 6-10 yuan; 4) 11-15 yuan; 5) 16-20 yuan; 6) 20 yuan or more C4.3.2 Why are you willing to pay? 1) It’s reasonable; 2) It’s not much; 3) I desire this service; 4) other, specify __________ C4.3.3 Why are you unwilling to get this service? 1) I cannot afford it; 2) It’s just worth so much; 3) I don’t want to pay for it; 4) It should be borne by the government; 5) other, specify _____________ C5 Are you willing to pay for tap water house collection? 1) Yes; 2) no C6 If you’re willing to pay, you are willing to pay up to ______ yuan. 1) Over 1,000 yuan; 2) 801-1,000 yuan; 3) 501-800 yuan; 4) 301-500 yuan; 5) 101-300 yuan; 6) 100 yuan or less Part 4 Public participation / publicity and education D1 Have you heard of the Project? 1) Yes; 2) no (skip to D3) D2 How did you know it? 1) TV, broadcast, newspaper, Web; 2) government notice; 3) village committee; 4) others; 5) other, specify _________ D3 Is the Project important for your family? 1) Very important; 2) important; 3) a bit important; 4) unimportant; 5) don’t care D4 Do you think local villagers will benefit directly from the Project? 93 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) not clear D5 Do you support the Project? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t care D6 Which member of your family will attend meetings related to the Project? 1) Young woman; 2) young man; 3) old woman; 4) old man; 5) child; 6) whoever is free D7 How will you reflect suggestions or comments on the Project? 1) Government; 2) sub-district office; 3) contractor; 4) Internet; 5) news media; 6) other, specify _________ D8 Are you willing to do jobs generated by the Project? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know D9 How should wastewater treatment systems be maintained after completion? 1) Village; 2) specialized company engaged by the government; 3) other, specify _________ D10 Should local villagers participate in the routine operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment systems? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) not clear D11 Are you willing to do operation and maintenance jobs? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t know D12 Are you willing to change your habits after project completion? 1) Yes; 2) no; 3) don’t care D12.1 If yes, how? (Multiple choices allowed) 1) bathing often; 2) using flush toilets; 3) using less chemical detergents; 4) not throwing litter into ditches and sewers D13 Which negative impacts will the Project have during construction? 1) Flying dust and tail gas during construction; 2) water loss and soil erosion due to construction; 3) discharge of construction and domestic wastewater; 4) noise from construction machinery and vehicles; 5) discharge of construction and domestic waste; 6) other, specify _________ D14 Which positive impacts will the Project have? 1) Improving the living environment; 2) reducing drinking water pollution; 3) reducing diseases; 4) reducing wastewater impacts on crops; 5) offering job opportunities; 6) promoting economic development; 7) other, specify _________ D15 Which negative impacts will the Project have after completion? 1) Secondary pollution from sludge; 2) increased expenses; 3) partial land loss; 4) no negative impact; 5) other, specify ________ Part 5 Basic information E1 Your age: _________ years E2 Your gender: ______ 1) male; 2) female E3 Type of your registered residence: _______ 1) agricultural; 2) nonagricultural E4 Are you the head of your household?1) Yes; 2) No E5 Your educational level: ______ 1) Illiterate; 2) primary school; 3) junior high school; 4) Senior high school / secondary technical school; 5) junior college or above E6 Your occupation: ______ 1) Civil servant; 2) worker of public institution; 3) enterprise employee; 4) self-employer; 5) freelancer; 6) laid-off worker; 7) retiree; 8) student; 9) farmer; 10) migrant worker; 11) other, specify _________ E7 Your family’s average monthly income in 2016 1) 1,000 yuan or less; 2) 1,001-3,000 yuan; 3) 3,001-6,000 yuan; 4) 6,001-10,000 yuan; 5) 10,001-20,000 94 yuan; 6) 20,001-30,000 yuan; 7) 30,001 or above E8 Your family’s average monthly expenditure in 2016 1) 1,000 yuan or less; 2) 1,001-3,000 yuan; 3) 3,001-6,000 yuan; 4) 6,001-10,000 yuan; 5) 10,001-20,000 yuan; 6) 20,001-30,000 yuan; 7) 30,001 or above E9 Is your family an MLS household? 1) Yes; 2) no 95 Appendix 5: Letter of Project Information Disclosure With the rapid economic development and urbanization of Jiangxi Province, wastewater treatment is an increasingly serious problem, especially in rural areas, affecting the rural environment and farmers’ living quality seriously. In order to accelerate the construction of rural domestic wastewater treatment facilities, and improve the rural environment and public services, the Jiangxi Provincial Government has applied for a loan with the World Bank to implement the Jiangxi Integrated Rural and Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Project. The gross investment in the Project is 1.945913 billion yuan; including Xiushui County 490.406 million yuan (including 35.042 million yuan for the wastewater treatment work in Zhajin Town); Yongxin County 356.242 million yuan; Nanfeng County 72.684 million yuan; Jinxi County 129.866 million yuan; Dongxiang District 308.114 million yuan; Linchuan District 207.999 million yuan and Leping City 365.949 million yuan. The Project includes water supply works in Xiushui County, Yongxin County, Nanfeng County, Jinxi County, Dongxiang District, Linchuan District, Leping City, and a rural wastewater treatment work in Zhajin Town, Xiushui County. The Project will improve rural infrastructure greatly, and reduce urban-rural gaps in basic public services, and promote civilized and beautiful countryside building. In addition, the Project will explore new patterns of rural wastewater treatment, and provide a useful reference for other parts of Jiangxi and other provinces. In the Project, public participation is realized through existing village organizations and activities, such as village congress and village group meeting in order to involve villagers in project information disclosure, publicity, design, land use, construction, operation and maintenance as much as possible, thereby ensuring the successful construction and proper functioning of the Project, and minimize potential impacts. 96