Jeonnam Gwangju City Council urges enactment of a special law to support dam downstream areas by securing water for the semiconductor industry

A request was made by the Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City Council that support measures are needed for the downstream area of ​​the dam that is affected by securing water for the semiconductor industrial complex in the Honam area.

According to the Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special City Council on the 5th, 37 people, including Rep. Oh Haeng-sook, recently proposed a 'proposal urging the enactment of a special law to support dam downstream areas', which is expected to be submitted and processed at the special meeting to be held from the 7th.

As the use of local water resources, including Juam Dam, is expected to increase due to the attraction of the semiconductor industry, the proposal includes a call to guarantee existing water for residential, industrial, and agricultural use and ecological flow in the lower Seomjingang River, and to establish a separate support system for downstream residents.

According to the semiconductor water supply plan, the initial 150,000 tons of water per day required by the end of 2028 will be secured by securing 50,000 tons of water from Juam Dam and 100,000 tons from Boseong River Dam, and the long-term final supply target is 1.06 million tons per day.

The plan to increase the Dongbok Dam by 15m, which was initially promoted to secure water for semiconductors, was recently changed to building a new dam downstream of the existing dam.

The plan is to expand water storage capacity by building a new dam about 15m higher than the existing dam, and relocation and support measures for residents of submerged areas in the Hwasun and Damyang areas are also considered tasks.

In addition to supporting areas around submerged areas and dams, the city council requested that "the impact of expanding water use through Juam Dam and the Boseong River to the lower reaches of the Seomjin River should be examined."

Lawmakers argued that changes in water flow due to the operation of Juam Dam and water intake facilities extend through the Boseong River to the lower reaches of the Seomjin River, and that concerns about residents' livelihoods and the ecosystem are continuing due to insufficient maintenance flow during the dry season, increased salinity due to seawater inflow, and changes in the habitat of clams.

It was also said that before supplying new industrial water, existing residential, industrial, and agricultural water and downstream ecological flow should be guaranteed first, and the impact of expansion of water supply on downstream areas should be verified in advance.

It was also pointed out that the current support system for areas around dams is focused on areas adjacent to freshwater reservoirs, making it difficult for downstream areas affected by dam operation to receive stable support.

They also called for the enactment of the 'Special Act on Support for Dam Downstream Areas', tentatively named, to designate downstream areas affected by dam operation as targets of support and promote damage prevention and relief, support for residents and agriculture and fisheries, and ecosystem restoration.

In addition, they requested that dam water sales and power generation profits be utilized to establish win-win measures for stable support resources and return of profits, and that downstream residents be allowed to participate in the decision-making process of dam operation, water distribution, and support projects.

Once the proposal is adopted, it will be sent to the President, Speaker of the National Assembly, Prime Minister, representatives of each political party, and the Minister of Climate, Energy and Environment.