Environmental Improvement Based on the Use of Thermal Water from Nuclear Power Plants

A common effect of nuclear power plants’ operation is the discharge of heated water, for which the term “technogenic thermal water” is proposed, into water bodies. Despite the declared intentions to phase out nuclear power, the number of nuclear power plants in the world and their aggregate capacity keep increasing. This inevitably leads to bigger heat output. There are two alternative solutions to problems arising from the discharge of technogenic thermal water by nuclear power plants. The first, traditional, solution is in line with the currently prevailing “restrictive paradigm” of environmental activity and lies in stricter control over the thermal pollution of water bodies. The second solution implies creating conditions under which the energy of technogenic thermal water could be used to improve the state of water bodies for the purposes of fish farming, crops production, and seawater desalination. This will require active human participation in the development of environmental situation, as well as design and installation of special technical devices. Such methodological approach should, therefore, be referred to as the “creative paradigm” of environmental activity