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You are here: Home > STUK > Press releases > Press releases 2002 > Warm cooling water from nuclear power plant increases aquatic vegetation
13/09/2002 The warm cooling
water of nuclear power plants increases the aquatic vegetation in
the discharge area of sea bottom. The effects of the cooling water
to the aquatic vegetation close to the Loviisa power plant were
more minor than expected regardless of the exceptionally warm
summer. This was found out in diving surveys made in summer
2002.
The changes in vegetation were relatively small compared to the survey made in 1999. The common reed (Phragmites australis) growth had thickened and increased in certain bays and hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), that favours eutrophic waters, had become more common. The amount of filamentous algae was however clearly smaller and the condition of bladder-wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) growths was distinctively better than earlier. STUK has studied the effects of warm cooling water to the aquatic ecosystem in the vicinity of Loviisa and Olkiluoto since the initiation of the nuclear power plants. "The surveillance was actually started already before the power plants were built, so the data on effects is quite representative,” says Erkki Ilus, Head of NPP Environmental Laboratory. The quality of water, i.e., temperature, oxygen and nutrient contents are monitored. Also the plankton and their primary production, bottom fauna and aquatic vegetation are surveyed. Bottom vegetation surveys are performed by diving every three years. Especially the abundance of vegetation and the changes in species composition are examined. The effect of warm water is obvious near the discharge place of cooling water. For example, spiked water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and perfoliate pondweed (Potamogeton perfoliatus) with epiphytic filamentous algae coating them thrive in the warm water and increase the eutrophication of aquatic vegetation. Page updated 30/09/2004 |
/ STUK |