[미국] 물 지도자 회의에서 미국 물 기본시설 투자 지원 집회 열려

미국 전역에 걸쳐 물 부문의 수많은 주요 지도자들이 Capitol Hill에 모여 수천억 달러 미국의 물 기본시설을 다지기 위해 필요한 수천억 달러를 투자하는 데 동참하기 위해 워싱턴을 방문했다고 밝혔다.

샌디에고 시장 Kevin Faulconer는 “농경에서 교통수단 생산까지, 미국의 경제는 물과 함께 했다.”고 말하며 “샌디에고 크래프트 비어를 양조하든, 뉴욕시의 수백만을 위해 전기를 제공하든 우리 도시는 물 기본시설에 의존적이다. 그래서 우리는 이제 다가올 미래에 투자할 필요가 있다.”고 덧붙였다.

Water leaders convene on Capitol Hill, rally support to invest in U.S. water infrastructure
     
a number of major water sector leaders from across the nation have convened on Capitol Hill and have invited Washington to join them in investing the hundreds of billions of dollars required to strengthen U.S. water infrastructure -- helping bolster America's workforce and sharpen its competitive edge.

 "From agriculture to manufacturing to transportation, America's economy runs on water," said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. "Whether it's brewing a San Diego craft beer or providing electricity for millions in New York, our cities depend on reliable water infrastructure -- and we need to invest now so that when it comes to our future, the glass is half full."

Yet just last year, the American Society of Civil Engineers reported that U.S. water and wastewater systems are close to failing, giving the systems a "D" grade. As such, Houston Mayor Annise Parker noted, "It's estimated that we need to spend $4.8 trillion over the next 20 years in order to fix and maintain the country's current water systems and preserve existing service levels. We need to join hands today and invest for tomorrow."

 
The water industry is rising to the challenge. According to new research from the Water Research Foundation (WRF) and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), 30 of the large utilities from around the country will invest $233 billion over the next decade and generate more than half a trillion dollars in U.S. economic output.

 
Earlier this year, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee galvanized mayors and cities through a resolution that was adopted at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Dallas. The resolution called for a renewed partnership across sectors to accelerate investment in water infrastructure in order to drive job creation and economic growth and prepare communities to be resilient in the face of climate change.

"Neither industry nor government can do this alone," said Susan Story, American Water president and CEO. "Each has a critical role in enabling the next great American idea. In addition to the $230 billion spent by these 30 public utilities, American Water will invest more than $5 billion in the next five years in water infrastructure. Each sector plays a critical role."

 According to the study, the utilities are responsible for 36,500 high-quality, direct jobs that help workers enter the middle class and further grow American competitiveness. More than 289,000 permanent jobs will be supported annually over the next decade.

"Jobs in the water and wastewater industries can't be outsourced; this is local work done by people living and working right in our communities," said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, co-chair of the Water Council of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. "These jobs offer competitive salaries as well as opportunities for training and advancement. Simply put: when water works, America works."

 
The range of organizations participating in Washington today demonstrates the wide-spread recognition of the water sector's economic importance. The events are being co-hosted by: American Society of Civil Engineers, Building America's Future, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, National Urban League, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Value of Water Coalition.

 

[출처 = Waterworld / 2014년 9월 10일]