Question

Name the main culprit industries of thermal pollution.

Answer 1

• Thermal (fossil‑fuel) power plants discharge large volumes of heated cooling water.
• Nuclear power plants also use water for cooling and release warmed effluent.
• Large industrial plants that use water for cooling include: steel mills, pulp & paper, chemical plants, petroleum refineries, and large manufacturing plants. The same effect occurs when factory cooling water is returned to rivers/sea at a higher temperature.
• Other industrial sectors with high thermal discharges, e.g., cement and glass manufacturing.