Thermal Pollution

• Thermal pollution, sometimes called "thermal enrichment," is the

degradation of water quality by any process that changes ambient
water temperature.
• Thermal pollution is the rise or fall in the temperature of a natural
body of water caused by human i'nfluence.
• Thermal pollution, unlike chemical pollution, results in a change in
the physical properties of water.
• A common cause of thermal pollution is the use of water as
a coolant by power plants and industrial manufacturers.
• The discharge of warm water into a river is usually called a
thermal pollution.
 Sources of thermal pollution
• 1. Water As A Cooling Agent In Power, Manufacturing And
Industrial Plants

• It occurs when an industry removes water from a source, uses the water for cooling
purposes and then returns the heated water to its source.
• Power plants heat water to convert it into steam, to drive the turbines that generate
electricity.
• For efficient functioning of the steam turbines, the steam is condensed into water after it
leaves the turbines.
• This condensation is done by taking water from a water body to absorb the heat.
• This heated water, which is at least 15°C higher than the normal is discharged back into the
water body
2. Soil Erosion
• Soil erosion is another important factor that leads to thermal
poUution.
• Due to the ongoing soil erosion, the waters rise and are more
exposed to sunlight.
• The high temperature could prove fatal to aquatic biomes as it can
lead to anaerobic conditions.
3. Deforestation
• Trees and plants prevent sunlight from falling directly onto lakes,
ponds or rivers. With deforestation, these bodies of water are
exposed directly to sunlight, absorb more heat and increase
temperature.
• Deforestation is also the main cause of the higher concentrations of
greenhouse gases, i.e. Global warming in the atmosphere.
• 4. Runoff From Paved Surfaces
• Urban runoffs discharged into surface water from paved surfaces
such as streets and parking lots can make the water warmer.
During the summer season, the pavement gets quite hot, creating
warm drains that enter sewers and bodies of water.
• 5. Natural Causes
• Natural causes such as volcanoes, geothermal springs, and hot
springs under the oceans and seas can trigger warm lava to raise
the temperature of the waters. Lightning can also add a large
amount of heat to the oceans.
• This means that the overall temperature of the water source
increases and has a significant impact on the environment.
• 6. Retention Ponds
• Retention Ponds can be another source of thermal shock as the
relatively small and shallow bodies of water can absorb some of
the thermal energy from the sun.
• If this water is pumped directly into a river, lake, or cove, it will
cause a significant increase in temperature. It's similar to pouring a
hot pitcher of water into a bathtub full of water, causing the water to
bounce a few degrees Fahrenheit.
• 7. Domestic Sewage
• Domestic wastewater is often discharged into rivers, lakes, canals or
streams without treating the waste. The temperature of municipa'I
wastewater is usually higher than that of the receiving water.
• As the temperature of the absorbing water increases, the dissolved oxygen
(DO) decreases and the oxygen demand increases, which leads to
anaerobic conditions.
 Effects of thermal pollution
• The warmer temperature decreases the solubility of oxygen and
increases the metabolism of fish. This changes the ecological balance of
the river.
• Within certain limits thermal additions can promote the growth of
certain fish and the fish catch may be high in the vicinity of a power
plant.
• However sudden changes in temperature caused by periodic plant
shutdowns both planned and unintentional can change result in death
of these fish that are acclimatized to living in warmer waters
• Tropical marine animals are generally unable to withstand a
temperature increase of 2 to 3°C and most sponges, mollusks and
crustaceans are eliminated at temperatures above 37 °C .
• This results in a change in the diversity of fauna as only those species
that can live in warmer water survive.
• 1. Decreased Dissolved Oxygen

• Warm water contains less oxygen than cold water. When oxygen
levels drop, animals that cannot move to another area can begin to
die. In deeper waters, injecting warm water can prevent oxygen
from dispersing in deep water. This may be good for bacteria, but
dangerous for aquatic animals
• 2. Migration
• Fish and amphibians can move away from the warm water to a
more suitable location and disrupt the ecosystem for remaining
animals.
• Birds may also be forced to go in search of areas with more food.
Plants and certain animals get stuck in the area, which can lead to
enormous losse
3. Loss Of Biodiversity
• Sudden warming can kill or drive off endangered organisms. This is
one of many serious problems for threatened and endangered
•
species.
• This loss can be caused by organisms dying from the hot water,
unable to reproduce as effectively as before, or simply leaving the
area.
• 4. Ecological Impacts
• The loc.al aquatic ecosystem can be damaged by thermal
pollution, especially when it is dramatic, such as when copious
amounts of warm water are channeled Into a cool pond, cove, or
•
river.
• "Thermal shock" can kill insects, fish, and amphibians.
• This sudden loss of life creates further problems with the
ecosystem. Important food sources are no longer sufficient.
• 5. Reproductive Effects
• A significant increase in temperature in the water can lead to reproductive
problems.
• Warmer water can affect the fertility of some organisms. Other species
may experience birth defects or lay deformed eggs due to chemical
changes in the body caused by warmer water.
• Defective eggs and birth defects affect the general fertility of the animal
population and can reduce the population.
6. Increased Metabolic Rate
• Warmer water can be good for cold-blooded fish and amphibians,
but only for a limited time. One of the many real problems warm
water ca.n cause is faster metabollism, which means animals need
more food.
• The local ecosystem may not be able to support a significant
increase in food consumption. Worse still, the warmer water gives
certain organisms an advantage while it harms others.
• How Can Thermal Pollution Be Prevented?
The following measures can be taken to prevent or control high temperature
caused by thermal pollution:
• Heated water from the industries can treated before discharging directly to the
water bodies.
• Heated water from the industries can be treated by the installation of cooling
ponds and cooling towers.
• Industrial treated water can be recycled for domestic use or industrial heating.
• Through artificial lakes: In this lake Industries can discharge their used or
heated water at one end and water for cooling purposes may be withdrawn
from the other end. The heat is eventually dissipated through evaporation.
• Hence, we can say any kind of pollution may directly or indirectly affect humans
because the loss of biodiversity causes changes that affect all aspects of the
environment.