How can thermal water pollution be reduced

Since warm water holds less oxygen than cold water, DO is decreased. As a result, suffocation can occur for plants and animals. Warmer water temperatures can also cause algae to flourish on the surface of the water. This can also decrease oxygen levels in water. Increase in toxins Water that is regurgitated back into water bodies from industrial sites often contains toxins. Toxins can impact local ecology and make them more prone to various diseases.

Ecological impact Small temperature changes can affect some aquatic species. Thermal pollution can cause mass killings of plants, insects, or amphibians 3. However some species, such as algae, tend to benefit from the heat 4. Thermal pollution can occur from water being pulled and released from natural water bodies. In most cases, the water temperature is increased. However, a distinctive form of thermal pollution involves cold water being released into natural water bodies from storage reservoirs 5.

While it may be costly to control thermal pollution, there are ways it can be done. Industrial sites and plants should treat water before regurgitating it back into natural water bodies. This could significantly reduce thermal pollution.

Another idea is to install cooling ponds and or cooling towers to treat water. Artificial lakes can also help control thermal pollution 6.

An example of thermal pollution is a factory that uses water for cooling then releases warm water back into a natural body of water without treating it first. Another example of thermal pollution is soil erosion. Soil erosion causes bodies of water to be more exposed to sunlight, thus increasing the temperature. In addition to killing fish and other animals, thermal pollution can cause organisms to consume more food than they usually consume.

As a result, the food chain may be disrupted. The food chain may also be disrupted by species migrating to environments that can sustain their survival. Quality of water can be decreased by thermal pollution. Thermal pollution can cause water to be warmer and hold less oxygen. Without a consistent level of oxygen, the quality of water may suffer and affect surrounding habitats. In addition, thermal pollution can feed algae growth, causing waters to be overwhelmed and oxygen-deprived.

While algae are essential to the food chain, too many algae can suffocate plants and animals. Thermal pollution causes rapidly changing water temperatures that can be devastating for marine life. Most marine animals are unable to survive sudden temperature changes. In some cases, thermal pollution may only slightly change water temperature.

However, even a slight thermal shock can cause reproduction challenges and lower disease resistance. As a result of thermal pollution, oxygen depletion can occur and affect marine life. Oxygen depletion can kill coral and other marine life. Changes in water temperature may also force marine life to migrate.

This can affect the food chain. Thermal pollution can also cause an overabundance of organic nutrients as a result of organic matter decomposition being faster in warmer water. As aquatic plants grow faster in nutrient-rich warm water, fish gills can be choked and water can be clouded.

While warm water discharge causes most thermal pollution, cool water discharges may also disrupt marine life. Plankton often cannot survive, and fish, their eggs, and their fry may die in colder temperatures.. The organisms that die may be replaced by other organisms reproducing, which can change the local ecosystem 7. Aquatic organisms like juvenile fish, plankton, fish, eggs, larva, algae and protozoa which pass through screens and condenser cooling system are extremely sensitive to abrupt temperature changes.

They are habitual of warmer water may suddenly face increase or decrease in temperature of water bodies and thus die because of sudden changes in the temperature of water.

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 the aspects of the environment.

Are you worried or stressed? Click here for Expert Advice. Comment 0. Post Comment. We usually think of animals as casualties of water pollution, but multi-celled aquatic plants are also at risk when thermal pollution changes the local aquatic ecosystem. The local aquatic ecosystem can be damaged by thermal pollution, especially if it is dramatic, as in copious amounts of warm water being dumped into a chilly pond or bay or river.

This sudden loss of life causes further issues with the ecosystem. Key food sources are no longer adequate. A threatened or endangered local population may be wiped out or put under even more pressure. Coral reef bleaching has also been observed when a power plant or factory is dumped into coastal water. Coral bleaching happens when the coral organisms die.

A significant temperature increase in the water can cause reproductive problems. Warmer water can reduce the fertility of some organisms. Other species may suffer birth defects or lay deformed eggs because of chemical changes in the body caused by warmer water. Defective eggs and birth defects hurt the overall reproductive fitness of the animal population and can reduce the population. Thermal pollution can change the biology of aquatic organisms in a variety of ways.

Warmer water may be good for cold-blooded fish and amphibians, but only for a limited time. One of many real problems that warm water may cause is faster metabolism, 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 an advantage to certain organisms while it puts stress on others.

The more-adaptable organisms may unbalance the ecosystem simply by out-competing other organisms and by eating them or driving them to starvation. Welcome Continue. Energy Tech Tips Community. Causes and Effects of Thermal Pollution August 2, The Main Cause of Thermal Pollution: Many human and natural factors contribute to the problem of thermal pollution. Cut your carbon footprint in half.

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