| Abstract | This thesis studied the environmental and socio-economic impact assessment (ESIA) of Xeset 2 dam, Salavan, Lao people’s democratic republic (Lao PDR) in 2011. This work aimed to compare the water quality nowadays with the periods before dam construction (during EIA study) since 1999. The study comprised of 2 parts of environmental impact assessment (EIA) that focused on water quality and socio-economic impact assessment (SIA) of Xeset 2 dam. The sampling sites selected at three sites. The first site was collected at the bridge at national road No.20, Lao-ngam village (Tapoung river). The second location was Photok village, 100 meters, upstream of Xeset 1 dam and downstream Xeset 2 dam (Xeset river). Lastly, the third site was at the bridge at national road No.20, downstream of the Xeset 1 and Xeset 2 dam. The entirely of water samples were collected only in 2 seasons of rainy season and winter, 2011 according to the shortage of water supply in summer.
EIA after dam in this study focused on the water quality in the river flow from Xeset 2 dam. The water quality studied physical, chemical and biological characteristics (APHA, 2005). The results confirmed that since dam started, the chemical characteristics of water samples mostly were higher than in 1999, especially in rainy season such as hardness at site 1 was 65.3 milligram per liter in rainy season higher than site 2 and 3, alkalinity in winter at site 1 was 76.3 milligram per liter, chemical oxygen demand (COD) in rainy at site 1 was 129.3 milligram per liter, nitrate-nitrogen was 8.9 milligram per liter at site 1 in rainy season, phosphate-phosphorus was 0.1 milligram per liter. Those water qualities found COD higher than surface water quality standard of Lao PDR all three sites and 2 seasons, except at site 2 and site 3 in winters because the organic and inorganic matter contamination from human activity such as from agricultural and domestic sewage release and manure along the river. However, most parameters of Xeset and Tapoung remain lies with the surface water quality standard of Lao PDR and USEPA. Thus, the result of mainly water quality analysis at Xeset and Tapoung rivers were within the surface water quality standard type 2, use for: consumption which requires ordinary water treatment process before use, aquatic organism of conservation, fisheries and recreation.
The socio-economic impact assessment (SIA) was analyzed by questionnaire and investigated at three villages in Salavan province, Lao PDR. The sample sites were 1) Photok village, upstream Xeset 1 dam and downstream Xeset 2 dam (Xeset river), 2) Thong soui village downstream Xeset 2 dam (Xeset river). Lastly, 3) Tapoung river at Ban Lao-ngam village. The questionnaires include 4 parts; the first part was general information. The part 2 focused on socio-economic before and after dam construction (occupation, income, infrastructure and etc.), the part 3 about dam construction has effect on human value aspect of local people. The final part was the recommendation to the dam project from native people to Xeset dam project and demand to the government of Lao PDR.
It was found that, Xeset 2 dam, Salavan province provides a quality of life for native people (2011) than the start-up periods (1999). Dam was the crucial factors that affected the infrastructure development for example roads, bridges and transportation improvement. Indigenous people altered to have the better quality of life than the start-up periods of Xeset 2 dam. The three villages gained more income as well as number of education system rose than on 1999. The result found that sanitary and health in the villages were also improved to 94.61 percentage of restrooms of instead excreta wasted left outdoor at bushes (61 percentage) in 1999. The Malaria patients was decreased and altered to disappear, recently. However, the effect from hydroelectric power dam possibly resulted in population increase was 3.65±0.80 and 100 percentage was inadequate water and etc.
Water quality study for supply consumption from Xeset 2 dam, these kinds of activities had huge effects on water quality change from the start-up hydroelectric power Xeset 2 dam as well as the effect from socio-economic development of people around those areas. These activities directly affected in the contamination by the water activity from the villagers and socio-economic changes.
Thus, this environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) will stimulate the people concern on their carefulness and the unavoidable behaviors in order to reduce the impact on the water quality and gain the sustainable natural resources that meet the better quality of life. This could lead in the dam project and national of Lad PDR consideration, strategy and policy in the future.
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