Thermal pollution
Human Health Risk
Ecological Risk
Socioeconomic Risk
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Thermal pollution refers to elevated water temperatures that result from industrial
discharges to streams, rivers, or other waterbodies. Elevated temperatures can have
negative effects on aquatic organisms, and accordingly, temperature is one of the
required parameters included in New Jersey state water quality standards. Thermal
shock, such as when power plants shut down in winter, can also lead to impacts (e.g.,
fish kills).
What’s at risk?
Based on the most recent information collected
by New Jersey DEP, less than 1% of documented impairments to New Jersey waters are
attributable to thermal pollution. Watersheds
affected include the Middle DelawareMusconetcong, Raritan, Hackensack-Passaic,
Middle Delaware, Lower Delaware, and
Cohansey-Maurice basins.
Elevated water temperatures in these basins may
increase metabolic and respiration rates, altering
behavior patterns of aquatic organisms. Although
rising temperatures may enhance the growth rate
of some organisms, eventually higher temperatures can adversely affect reproduction and
survival. The extent of damage depends on the
rate of temperature change, duration of the
exposure, and where the ambient temperature
lies in relation to the tolerance range of a given
species. Compared with other stressors, thermal
pollution does not represent a significant category of water quality impairments in the state.
Given the relative insignificance of thermal
pollution as compared with other water quality
stressors and the fact that less than 1% of New
Jersey’s documented impairments are due to
temperature, it is unlikely that thermal pollution
would have any socioeconomic ramifications.
What’s being done?
Stringent requirements on industrial discharges
will continue to limit the potential for adverse
impacts associated with thermal pollution of
aquatic ecosystems. Nevertheless, New Jersey
water quality status is updated every two years,
affording an ongoing opportunity to monitor
the extent of thermal pollution over time.
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Final Report of the New Jersey State Comparative Risk Project
STRESSOR SUMMARIES
What are the ecological impacts in New
Jersey?
What are the socioeconomic impacts in
New Jersey?