Thermal Pollution:
Thermal pollution can be defined as the generation and discharge of waste heat into the water bodies thus resulting in undesirable effects in the aquatic environment. The major sources of such heat are thermal power plants, nuclear power plants, iron and steel refiners, etc. The thermal plants utilize 33% of the energy while the rest of the energy is lost as heat. The such superheated water was earlier discharged into the water bodies which could raise the temperature of the water resulting in several impacts as stated below:
1. It may immediately kill the flora and fauna at the point of discharge or in its vicinity.
2. It alters the metabolic activities of several organisms.
3. It hampers the migration, breeding, and spawning of fish.
4. Temperature affects the physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of a water body.
5. It decreases the dissolved oxygen content of water.
6. The elevated temperature may change the solubility of the pollutnats in water.