Analysis of the Effect of Thermal Outfall on a Downstream Atomic Power Station

Thermal effluent from a proposed thermal power plant is to be discharged into an impounded river segment upstream of an existing intake to a power plant. There is a possibility that this discharge may adversely impact the warm water fishery use designation in the pond. The effects of the proposed discharge on water temperature were evaluated using RIVRISK and CORMIX. RIVRISK is a model sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute and predicts thermal and human health impacts of releases of excess heat and chemical-containing effluents. CORMIX is a United States Environmental Protection Agency (US/EPA) simulation and decision support system for environmental impact assessment of mixing zones resulting from continuous point source discharges. Components of the analysis are described below.