Water Pollution Through Energy Sector

Abstract

Energy and water are valuable resources and are to a large extent, interdependent. Water is an integral element of energy resource development and utilization. It is used in energy-resource extraction, refining & processing and transportation. There are different sources of water pollution in which energy sector play major role. Due to population growth and economic development, demand of energy is increasing continuously which ultimately affected the quality of water. Depending on the water quality needs for particular applications, freshwater supplies can be augmented with degraded or brackish water. Water quantities available for use are dependent on the water qualities needed for each use. In a present energy scenario, consumption of water in the electric sector could grow substantially, though increased demand for water would provide an incentive for technologies that reduce water use, thus dampening the increase in water use. Technologies are available that can reduce water use in the electric sector, including alternative cooling for thermoelectric power plants, wind power, and solar photovoltaics, but cost and economics, among other factors, have limited deployment of these technologies Meanwhile, climate concerns and declines in groundwater levels suggest that less freshwater, not more, may be available in the future.