Oh Miseop of Gwangju Seo-gu Council Calls for Groundwater Management Measures

Seeking Ways to Enhance the Use of the "Groundwater Usage Fee"

Oh Miseop, a member of the Gwangju Seo-gu Council, has requested that the Seo-gu District Office establish proactive measures to prevent groundwater contamination.

During the 332nd temporary session of the Seo-gu Council held on July 24, Oh emphasized the need for thorough management of soil pollutants and rigorous oversight of groundwater in order to block sources of groundwater contamination in advance.

Omiseop, Gwangju Seo-gu Council Member. Provided by Gwangju Seo-gu Council

Recently, a series of reports on groundwater contamination caused by the leakage of pollutants from some industrial complexes in Gwangju has heightened anxiety among local residents.

Oh stated, "Due to the contamination incident in Gwangju, concerns are mounting over groundwater pollution in the Deokheung-dong area, where various small factories are densely clustered." He added, "We must alleviate residents' concerns by preparing preventive measures such as environmental impact assessments for factory establishments and preemptive actions to block sources of groundwater contamination."

He continued, "While the 'Groundwater Usage Fee' is being collected based on the 'Gwangju Seo-gu Groundwater Management Ordinance' and there is a system in place to recognize groundwater as a public resource and assign appropriate responsibility, there is still a lack of systematic budget management. It is necessary to consider ways to utilize the fee in line with its intended purpose."

Furthermore, he stressed, "The usage fee should not simply serve as a financial resource, but must function as a tool for groundwater conservation and contamination prevention. Since groundwater contamination has limitations when addressed only after the fact and, due to its gradual progression through soil, restoration can require significant costs and may take decades, proactive prevention and continuous management are the best solutions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.