Thermal power plants are often grouped alongside factories as sources of industrial pollution. What specific type of water pollution do thermal power plants cause, and how does it harm aquatic ecosystems?
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 13:36 · grounding rag
Model Answer
Thermal power plants cause thermal pollution of water. This occurs when hot water from thermal plants is drained directly into rivers and ponds before cooling.
Effect on aquatic ecosystems:
- The rise in water temperature reduces the dissolved oxygen level in water.
- This disturbs the aquatic life, as fish and other organisms cannot survive in low-oxygen, high-temperature conditions.
- It disrupts the ecological balance of rivers and ponds, harming biodiversity.
Source: Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation, Chapter 6
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Explanation
The examiner expects students to:
- Name the type — "thermal pollution" (1 mark).
- Explain the cause — hot water released before cooling (1 mark).
- State the harm — reduced dissolved oxygen, damage to aquatic life/ecosystem (1 mark).
The textbook directly asks "What would be the effect on aquatic life?" as a thinking question — your answer should address exactly that. Avoid writing about air or land pollution here; stay focused on water and thermal pollution only.