ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the effects of electric generating stations on estuarine organisms. Among the deflection techniques, the use of electrical barriers, air bubble curtains, artificial lights, acoustic barriers, louvers, and velocity caps has met with only marginal success. The chapter discusses the potential problems of biocides used to reduce biofouling in the cooling water circuit of the facilities. The beneficial uses of waste heat from electric generating stations fall into three main categories: industrial and residential applications; agriculture; and aquaculture. Problems related to the calefaction of estuarine waters due to waste heat discharges of electric generating plants were less acute prior to 1960. The chapter focuses on three principal areas of impact: thermal discharges, impingement, and entrainment. Planktonic organisms, microinvertebrates, and small juvenile fish passively drawn into the cooling water condenser systems of power plants suffer the consequences of entrainment, with increased risk of death from thermal, mechanical, and chemical effects.
