Environmental Impact Assessment of Construction of Water Pumping Station in Bacheh Bazar Plain: A Case from Iran

Abstract

Developmental projects in rural areas always require the assessment of multiple environmental impacts. Many projects may have negative effects on the environment which its effects reveal after construction and operation. The study was carried out with the aim of environmental impacts assessment of construction of water pumping station in Bacheh Bazar Plain, Iran. In this study, the Leopold matrix method was used to assess the impacts. Impacts of each project activities on the environmental components were measured using Leopold matrix in two stages of construction and operation. The findings showed that the total environmental impacts of the project were positive (+183 scores). So that the construction and operation of water pumping station will have negative impacts on physical and ecological environments and positive impacts on economic and socio-cultural environments. Finally, it can be concluded that the construction of water pumping station in Bacheh Bazar Plain is justified by observance of the standards. In the end, according to the results of the study, suggestions are made to reduce negative impacts.