406
L. Paj˛ ak et al.
20.3.4 Thermal Conditions of the Water Sourced
from the Intake and Discharged
In accordance with the requirements of the water permit, the power plant monitors
the quality of water sourced from the intake and also monitors the physicochemical
parameters of spent cooling water and wastewater. At the power plant, the temperature
of the water sourced from the power plant canal and of that discharged into the
river is continuously measured. The lowest temperature difference is observed in
winter from December to January. The minimum temperature difference between
the water sourced from the intake and discharged during this period is around 1 °C,
and the maximum difference is 5.8 °C. A slightly higher difference between the
temperature of water sourced from the canal and that of discharged water is recorded
in summer when the water is heated by a maximum of 8.6 °C. Taking into account the
naturally higher temperature of water in the canal (up to around 24 °C in summer),
the temperature of discharged water reaches 28.8 °C. However, it does not exceed
the temperature permitted for wastewater discharged into surface bodies of water.
On the other hand, the quality of the wastewater discharged into the water body is
similar to the quality of the water sourced from the Vistula River via the power plant
canal.
However, due to the need to use water from the Vistula River to cool the turbine
sets, the water quality of the body of surface water receiving spent cooling water is
deteriorated. The monitoring of bodies of surface water carried out by the Provincial
Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków demonstrates that the river
exhibits bad water status and potential. The increased electrolytic conductivity of
water and chloride content in chlorides in river waters are correlated with the quality
of the Vistula River waters used to cool turbine sets. From the analysis of water
monitoring results, it appears that the operation of the conventional power plant,
which uses an open cooling system based on the Vistula River waters, results in a
change in the physicochemical properties of the water body into which it discharges.
The changed section of the river is around 3 km long from the outlet through which
water is discharged, around the location where it enters the Vistula River. However,
the operation of the power plant only increases the temperature of water sourced
from the Vistula River and does not change its chemical composition. It should be
clearly stressed that the discharge of spent cooling water into the water body does
not affect the condition and quality of water in the Vistula River into which the
river in question flows. At the same time, the application of the derogation fulfils the
condition of Article 4(8) WFD in that it does not permanently exclude or compromise
the achievement of objectives in other bodies of water within the same river basin
district.
L. Paj˛ ak et al.
20.3.4 Thermal Conditions of the Water Sourced
from the Intake and Discharged
In accordance with the requirements of the water permit, the power plant monitors
the quality of water sourced from the intake and also monitors the physicochemical
parameters of spent cooling water and wastewater. At the power plant, the temperature
of the water sourced from the power plant canal and of that discharged into the
river is continuously measured. The lowest temperature difference is observed in
winter from December to January. The minimum temperature difference between
the water sourced from the intake and discharged during this period is around 1 °C,
and the maximum difference is 5.8 °C. A slightly higher difference between the
temperature of water sourced from the canal and that of discharged water is recorded
in summer when the water is heated by a maximum of 8.6 °C. Taking into account the
naturally higher temperature of water in the canal (up to around 24 °C in summer),
the temperature of discharged water reaches 28.8 °C. However, it does not exceed
the temperature permitted for wastewater discharged into surface bodies of water.
On the other hand, the quality of the wastewater discharged into the water body is
similar to the quality of the water sourced from the Vistula River via the power plant
canal.
However, due to the need to use water from the Vistula River to cool the turbine
sets, the water quality of the body of surface water receiving spent cooling water is
deteriorated. The monitoring of bodies of surface water carried out by the Provincial
Inspectorate for Environmental Protection in Kraków demonstrates that the river
exhibits bad water status and potential. The increased electrolytic conductivity of
water and chloride content in chlorides in river waters are correlated with the quality
of the Vistula River waters used to cool turbine sets. From the analysis of water
monitoring results, it appears that the operation of the conventional power plant,
which uses an open cooling system based on the Vistula River waters, results in a
change in the physicochemical properties of the water body into which it discharges.
The changed section of the river is around 3 km long from the outlet through which
water is discharged, around the location where it enters the Vistula River. However,
the operation of the power plant only increases the temperature of water sourced
from the Vistula River and does not change its chemical composition. It should be
clearly stressed that the discharge of spent cooling water into the water body does
not affect the condition and quality of water in the Vistula River into which the
river in question flows. At the same time, the application of the derogation fulfils the
condition of Article 4(8) WFD in that it does not permanently exclude or compromise
the achievement of objectives in other bodies of water within the same river basin
district.