Investigation of environmental impact of aggregates production with sustainability approach In the Case of Jimma Zone

Abstract

The Construction industry is one of the major industries contributing to these environmental threats. Quarrying and stone crushing are the significant activities that are done in all projects and districts of the company to produce aggregates. The quarrying and stone crushing activities considerably affect the environment quality and human health. For these reasons, the current study was trying to analyze surface water impact due to quarrying activities there should be accurate information on the extent to which the aggregate production poses an environmental impact. Thus, this study aimed to Investigation of the environmental impact of aggregates production with a sustainability approach In the Case of Jimma Zone. Hence, this research work-study the environmental and socioeconomic effects of aggregate production, identified the possible strategies that help to address the environmental and socioeconomic effects of aggregate production, and identify the possible strategies that help reduce the effects. The researcher purposely selected only five nearby quarry sites where there are five stone crushing plants associated with the quarries. The study's first target population was 254 residents,126 Workers and 10 quarry owners. A total of One hundred eighty (170) questionnaires were distributed; 10 among the Aggregate companies, 60 among the quarry workers, and 100 among the people within the quarry site in all 152 questionnaires were returned, eight from the quarry company, Small and High Tech and 52 from the quarry workers and 92 from the people living near the quarry. As the research result indicated, Quarry expansion was built up increments during the Land use land cover classification result in current to 57,958 shows dramatic expansions of quarry sites were recorded. Which is about 61 % expansion the quarry land use from Licensed Area the area. It is clearly shown that there were built-up increments during the quarry activity from time to time. Generally, all locations has sacrificed for quarry sites and aggregate production. The quarry site which is near Jimma city was is comparatively higher than the area of another quarry site. It was discovered that most of all that reside within the jurisdiction of less than 1km of the quarry and crushing plant areas are vulnerable to different types of pollution such as, Noise, Air (Dust), Water, and Land Pollution. Quarry owners should provide safety equipment and measures to their workers, and quarry workers should follow the safety procedures and properly wear their safety equipment; this has to be regularly checked by the regulatory agency