| | Water used in the process of the generation of electric power with fossil-fuel, nuclear, or geothermal energy, and including water lost by evaporative processes due to temperature increases. The water may be obtained from a public supply or may be self-supplied. Consumptive use for thermoelectric-power generation can vary substantially depending on a facility's cooling process and the extent of recirculation employed in the process. Consumptive use for thermoelectric-power generation has been estimated to be 1-2% for traditional cooling ponds where the water is discharged back to its source (with a 10-20 degree increase in temperature). However, the losses can compound when water is recirculated in the system before being discharged externally. |
