Thermal Pollution

                        Thermal pollution is a result of great inputs of heated water entering aquatic ecosystems via power plant drains.  The power plants release wastewater into nearby streams and lakes causing harmful effects on marine species.  Not only do power plants return the heated water to these bodies of water, but also the plants receive about half of the necessary water for cooling the plant from these nearby streams.  The increase in temperature lowers the solubility of oxygen in water decreasing the level of dissolved oxygen.  This decrease makes it difficult for organisms to “breathe”, or remove oxygen from the water.  At the same time, the warmer water causes these same species to respire faster and require more oxygen at a quicker rate.   This combination of effects has detrimental outcomes on the aquatic life’s population levels.  Though this process has detrimental effects on the environment, this method is the cheapest and easiest process to cool the power plant.           

            Thermal pollution is also caused by other secondary sources. Deforestation along shorelines increases water’s exposure to light.  The added heat warms and pollutes the water. Soil erosion on shore can cause cloudy waters.  The turned up sediment reduces the water’s clarity and increases light absorption, which heats the water.   This warm water can have drastic effects on the affected ecosystem. The plants in the biome will grow at a faster rate using more oxygen than the environment can provide.  Thermal pollution reduces dissolved oxygen, which prevents plant life from receiving the necessary amounts of oxygen.  Additionally, this occurrence can cause an algal bloom, a natural phenomenon that witnesses a rapid increase in algae [population within a given body of water. The algae die at a similar time thus further decreasing the levels of dissolved oxygen.  The increase in plant populations combined with the low levels of dissolved oxygen can kill fish and other living organisms in the water.

            Organisms can also go into thermal shock. This result occurs when the temperature of an ecosystem changes too quickly before the organisms can adapt to the change. The thermal shock causes all functions of the species’ bodies to operate differently.  The organisms begin to operate in a way unfit to the environment, which results in the animals’ deaths. Many animals, mainly marine life, have been killed due to thermal shock.

            Only a few possible solutions exist for thermal pollution. First, nuclear power plants should perfect any machinery that creates thermal pollution.  The systems should strive for maximum efficiency, which would cause the plants to use less water and to recycle any water used at a lower temperature.  Unnecessary amounts of friction in the machinery will cause the system to run less efficiently.  The plant can see small problems adding up to a significantly increased amount of cooling water needed. We can also minimize factory hours in order to produce less pollution.  Unfortunately, this solution can face much legal, governmental and industrial opposition. Factories need to keep up with the market and that demand cannot necessarily be controlled.