Dr.

Bushra Khatoon

Subject: Environmental Biotechnology (KBT-073)

Class: B.Tech (Biotech)
Year: 4th year (7th semester)
Topic: Thermal pollution sources, effects and measurements (Unit- I)

Thermal pollution may also be referred to as thermal enrichment. When the temperature of a natural body of water
suddenly increases or decreases, thermal pollution occurs. Industrial machinery and power plants are big
contributors to thermal pollution. Thermal pollution is defined as a sudden increase or decrease in the
temperature of a natural body of water, which may be an ocean, lake, river, or pond, by human influence.

Causes of Thermal pollution

1. Water as a Cooling Agent in Power, Manufacturing, and Industrial Plants

Production and manufacturing plants are the biggest sources of thermal pollution. These plants draw water
from a nearby source to keep machines cool and then release it back to the source at higher temperatures. When
heated water returns to the river or ocean, it raises the overall water temperature immensely. Other than different
power plants, the different petroleum refineries, pulp and paper mills, chemical plants, steel mills, and other
industrial facilities contribute greatly to thermal pollution. These facilities also use water to cool different
machinery, and the wastewater at elevated temperatures is again dumped on different bodies of water.

Furthermore, desalination and nuclear plants also use a lot of water for machine cooling and dump a lot of
radioactive waste into different bodies of water. The waste from these plants, which accumulates temperature
easily, also causes changes in temperature in the bodies of water, leading to thermal pollution. When oxygen levels
are altered in the water, it degrades the quality and longevity of life underwater wildlife that lives underwater. This
process can also wipe away streamside vegetation, which depends on constant oxygen and temperature levels. By
altering these natural environments, industries are essentially helping decrease the quality of life for these marine-
based life forms, which can ultimately destroy habitats if they are not controlled and careful about their practices.

2. Soil Erosion

Soil erosion is another major factor that causes thermal pollution. Consistent soil erosion causes water bodies to
rise, making them more exposed to sunlight. As bodies of water are more exposed to the sun’s heat, their
temperature increases. Besides the general soil erosion, once the streambanks are eroded, the vegetation cover
within the stream might be removed, further exposing the water to the thermal radiation from the sun. With that, the
increase in temperature in bodies of water is even faster. The high temperature could prove fatal for aquatic biomes
as it may give rise to anaerobic conditions and increase microbial activity. Furthermore, the increase in the
temperature of the bodies of water could kill some species as they can’t survive in warm bodies of water.

3. Deforestation

Trees and plants prevent sunlight from falling directly on lakes, ponds, or rivers. When deforestation occurs, these
water bodies are directly exposed to sunlight, thus absorbing more heat and raising their temperature. Aside
from providing shade for different bodies of water, forests and vegetation cover are also responsible for reflecting
back and directly absorbing the sun’s heat, preventing thermal pollution among the nearby water bodies.
Deforestation is also the leading cause of the higher concentrations of greenhouse gases, i.e., global warming in
the atmosphere. The higher atmospheric temperatures mean that water bodies accumulate higher temperatures even
faster.

4. Runoff From Paved Surfaces

Urban runoff discharged into surface waters from paved surfaces like roads and parking lots can warm the
water. During the summer, the pavement gets quite hot, creating warm runoff that gets into the sewer systems
and water bodies.
 Dr. Bushra Khatoon

5. Natural Causes

Natural causes like volcanoes, geothermal vents, and hot springs under the oceans and seas can trigger warm lava to
raise the temperature of water bodies. Lightening can also introduce a massive amount of heat into the
oceans. This means that the water source’s overall temperature will rise, significantly impacting the environment.

6. Retention Ponds

Retention ponds can be another source of thermal shock because the relatively small and shallow bodies of water
can absorb quite a bit of heat energy from the sun. When that water is pumped directly into a river, lake, or bay, it
causes a significant temperature increase. It is similar to pouring a hot pitcher of water into a bathtub full of water
that causes the water temperature to jump by a few degrees Fahrenheit.

7. Domestic Sewage

Domestic sewage is often discharged into rivers, lakes, canals, or streams without treating the waste. The
temperature of municipal water sewage is normally higher than receiving water. With the increasing
temperature of the receiving water, the dissolved oxygen (DO) decreases, and the demand for oxygen increases,
causing anaerobic conditions.

8. Thermoelectric Power Generation

Thermoelectric power plants are usually built next to bodies of water to have a steady supply of water necessary for
their production. The water used by power plants is converted to steam to drive turbines for electricity generation.
The water that did not evaporate from the conversion is sent back to the body of water it was gathered from. That
said, the remaining wastewater absorbs a lot of heat, and as it is sent back to the same body of water, thermal
pollution is caused. With the sudden change in the temperature of the bodies of water where the wastewater is being
dumped, the organisms are being disturbed and affected, causing further aquatic dilemmas that require long-term
solutions.

9. Hydroelectric Power Generation

As it is known, hydropower is harnessed by using a dam or diversion structure to alter the natural flow of a river or
body of water. The kinetic energy from the constant movement of the flowing water is converted into electricity
through the use of turbines and generators. Even though hydroelectric power is a renewable energy source, it still
has some disadvantages, one of which is causing thermal pollution. The turning of steam-heated turbines increases
the temperature of the water as they move continuously within the stream. With that, thermal pollution is being
caused.

Effects of Thermal Pollution

The effects of thermal pollution on ecosystems greatly outweigh the benefits that industries have by participating in
the act.

1. Decrease in DO (Dissolved Oxygen) Levels

The warm temperature reduces the levels of DO (Dissolved Oxygen) in the water. Warm water holds relatively
less oxygen than cold water. The decrease in DO can suffocate plants and animals such as fish, amphibians, and
copepods, which may give rise to anaerobic conditions. In addition, warmer water allows algae to flourish on the
water’s surface, and that can decrease oxygen levels in the water over the long term.

2. Increase in Toxicity
 Dr. Bushra Khatoon

With the constant flow of high-temperature discharge from industries, a huge increase in toxins regurgitated into the
natural body of water. These toxins may contain chemicals or radiation that may have a harsh impact on the local
ecology and make them susceptible to various diseases.

3. Loss of Biodiversity

A dent in the biological activity in the water may cause a significant loss of biodiversity. Changes in the
environment may trigger certain species of organisms to shift their base to some other place, while a significant
number of species may shift in because of warmer waters. Organisms that can adapt easily may have an advantage
over organisms that are not used to warmer temperatures.

4. Ecological Impact

A sudden thermal shock can result in the mass killing of fish, insects, plants, or amphibians. Hotter water may
prove favorable for some species, while it could be lethal for others. Many aquatic species are sensitive to small
temperature changes, such as one degree Celsius that can cause significant changes in organism metabolism and
other adverse cellular biology effects.

5. Affects Reproductive Systems

A significant halt in the reproduction of marine wildlife (although this may be true, reproduction can still occur
between fish – but the likelihood of defects in newborns is significantly higher) can happen due to increasing
temperatures, as reproduction can happen within a certain range of temperatures. Excessive temperatures can
cause the release of immature eggs or can prevent the normal development of certain eggs.

6. Increases Metabolic Rate

Thermal pollution increases the metabolic rate of organisms. High temperatures increase enzyme activity,
causing organisms to consume more food than what is normally required if their environment were not
changed. It disrupts the stability of the food chain and alters the balance of species composition.

7. Migration

The warm water can also cause particular species of organisms to migrate to a suitable environment that would cater
to their requirements for survival. This can result in a loss for those species that depend on them for their daily food
as their food chain is interrupted.

8. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

When the temperature of the stream, containing biodegradable matter rises, the intensified action of aquatic
organisms cause the BOD to be accomplished at a lower temperature.

Control measures to Thermal Pollution

The solutions to thermal discharge into water bodies are as follows:

1. Cooling Ponds

Cooling ponds or reservoirs are the simplest methods of controlling thermal discharges. In cooling ponds, heated
effluents on the surface of water maximize heat dissipation into the atmosphere and minimize the area and
volume of water. This is the simplest and cheapest method that cools the water to a considerably low temperature.
However, the method alone is less desirable and inefficient in terms of air-water contact.
 Dr. Bushra Khatoon

2. Cooling Towers

After using water from water sources for cooling purposes, it is returned to the water body after passing through the
condenser, which is termed the cooling process. Therefore, cooling towers are designed to control water temperature
to make the cooling process more effective. Cooling towers are mainly used to dissipate the recovered waste heat to
eliminate thermal pollution problems. In a cooling tower, the flow of air is affected by the natural sources or
mechanical means: Evaporative cooling towers are of two types:

a) Natural draft towers: In these cooling towers, hot water is sprayed down through a rising current of air. The
water vapour transfers its heat to the counter-current air and thereby, gets cooled. The cold water is collected from
the bottom and returned to the water system. The technique is however expensive due to installation and high
operation costs.

Figure: Mechanical draft cooling tower

b) Mechanical draft cooling towers: In these cooling towers, air flow is induced by electric fans. Warm water
during its passage to water course, gets cooled by the action of air. This technique is also not desirable, since it
creates annoying noise due to the operation of fans. The cost involves is higher.

c) Non evaporative cooling towers: In these cooling towers, heat is directly transferred to the atmosphere by
means of heat exchangers. This method is not so preferred due to fog formation.

3. Artificial Lake

Artificial lakes are man-made water bodies that offer a possible alternative. The heated effluents may be
discharged into the lake at one end, and the water may be withdrawn from the other end for cooling
purposes. The heat is eventually dissipated through evaporation. However, these lakes have to be rejuvenated
continuously.

4. Water Recycling

Industrially treated water can be recycled for domestic use or industrial heating so that the problem of thermal
pollution can be mitigated.

5. Other Applications

The thermal discharge (rejected heat) of power plants can be used for other purposes, like:
 Industrial and space heating.
 Biological applications such as soil warming.
 Fish culture, livestock shelters, and heating greenhouses.
Most of these potential physical applications are applicable in colder regions or locations.