Question

Power stations are often sited near the coast, which allows them to use sea water for cooling in the condensers at the outlets from their turbines. What analysis measurement would be particularly important in this situation and why? How could the measurement be made

Answer 1

Coastal waters consist of saline water, brackish waters, and freshwater. All three areas have different flora and fauna, which exist in a delicate balance.

If the power station is a nuclear power station, the primary effluents are hot water generated after cooling the condenser and radioactive materials. They shall increase the temperature of the nearby streams, and the effluents other than water, which are having some radioactive material, shall enter into the water bodies — thereby disturbing the ecology of the system. Consumption of seafood in these areas shall indirectly supply dangerous substances into our bodies.

If the Power station is a thermal station, the end products after the combustion of coal are ash, Hot water, and increases the turbidity and kill the newborn/young fish.

Due to the change in temperature of the water, younger ones find it difficult to survive, and increased turbidity reduces the vision of the fish.

So the detailed measurements include

1. Turbidity

2. Total Dissolved Solids and suspended solids

3. Total Hardness

4. Temperature (crucial)

5. P^H

6. Tests for measuring the quantity of elements like mercury, selenium, etc.,

The measurements should be carried out throughout the day with a constant period and for different seasons to understand the interaction of the water bodies with the effluents and their variation.