Water Use and Nuclear Power Plants - November, 2013

Uranium (Nuclear Minerals) / Nuclear Power - Economics, Design, & Industry

Date posted: 03/27/15

In applying the Holistic Environmental Management approach, the NEI Fact Sheets suggest that the electricity production and the availability of water are interdependent. While electricity generation requires water for cooling, usable water production requires substantial amounts of electricity for pumping and purification. To manage this interdependence responsibly, a range of issues should be taken into account. Within the energy sector, these issues include the potential environmental impacts of power plant cooling systems, the environmental footprint of various energy sources, and their reliability and economics when generating electricity. A holistic approach to environmental stewardship requires balancing the relationships among all aspects of the environment and making responsible trade-offs appropriate to the unique characteristics of each ecosystem where an electricity generation facility exists or will be developed. This integrated approach will yield optimal results for all issues, including water use. Local ecosystem considerations include water quantity and quality, aquatic life, wildlife, land use - habitat, and air quality. These issues, in turn, affect the broader environmental issues of sustainable development, climate change mitigation/adaptation and drought alleviation. All low-carbon energy sources including nuclear energy and renewables will be required for sustainable development. These energy sources must be developed in an environmentally responsible manner, taking into account environmental benefits and potential impacts, economics, and differing electricity generation attributes.