[미국] 일리노이 주지사, Clean Water Initiative법안에 서명

일리노이 주지사 Patrick Quinnd이 새로운 법안을 통과시켰다고 발표했다. 새로운 법안은 지역사회의 폭우와 폐수, 식수 기반 시설을 향상하는데 필요한 재정적 지원을 제공한다. 또한, 근본적인 시스템이 기후변화 영향에 대처하도록 준비한다.

천연자연보호위원회(NRDC)와 지역기술센터(CNT)은 Clean Water Initiative(CWI) 법안을 만들기 위해 입법부와 Quinn의 행정부와 같이 협력했으며 법안을 통과하기 위해 노력했다.
CWI에 따라서 녹색 기반시설은 주의 물 기반시설 기금으로부터 재정적인 지원을 받는다.

Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn signed into law legislation that will provide much-needed financial support for communities throughout the state to improve their stormwater, wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, while also helping make these essential systems better prepared to deal with the impacts of climate change.

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) worked with the legislature and with Quinn's administration to develop the legislation, known as the Clean Water Initiative (CWI), and worked to support the bill's passage. Under the CWI, green infrastructure would be eligible for financial assistance from the state's water infrastructure fund.

As the climate warms, Illinois communities can expect more extreme rainfall events interspersed with longer periods of dry conditions that can lower water supplies. The state's water systems were not designed with the increased risks of drought and the extreme precipitation that climate change is making more common. Making more efficient use of water helps make communities better prepared for dry periods like the drought that gripped Illinois in 2012, for example.

On the other extreme, more frequent intense storms cause stormwater systems to back up, resulting in flooded streets and basements. Already this year, Illinois cities have dealt with local flooding caused by extreme precipitation multiple times -- a trend that will continue as climate change impacts become more acute. Quinn has dealt with these issues more broadly as a member of the president's Climate Preparedness and Resiliency Task Force.

"As climate continues to warp our weather, Illinois needs to encourage communities to make their water infrastructure more resilient to both extreme precipitation and drought," said Rob Moore, a senior policy analyst at NRDC. "The bill Governor Quinn signs today will help communities' water infrastructure meets the changing demands of the future using new strategies that bring real bang for the buck like green infrastructure and water efficiency."

Extreme precipitation events cause flooding in urban areas when stormwater systems get overwhelmed. Both NRDC and CNT have done research showing that green infrastructure projects can help prevent urban flooding, cut pollution runoff into rivers and lakes, and replenish the supply of fresh water, saving money at the same time.

"Illinois residents, businesses and farmers have been suffering the devastating effects of unusually severe flooding, drought or both. Climate change is likely to make these events more common," said Hal Sprague, water policy manager at CNT. "The bill Governor Quinn signs today will help us manage such water challenges better and more cost-effectively, treating rain as a valuable resource and allowing us to implement systems and infrastructure that protect our homes, investments and the environment."

[출처 = Water World / 2014년 7월 23일]