The thermal discharge is the main characteristic emission of a nuclear power plant and its environmental impact is attracting more and more attention. This paper reviews the effects on the water environment and the aquatic organisms, and the current environmental assessment and management for the thermal discharge from nuclear power plants in China, focusing on the diffusion range, the monitoring, and the control and management of adverse effects. At the same time the practices of managing thermal discharge abroad are discussed. In view of the major problems in the present assessment and management, some effective control measures are suggested, including the investigation of ecological effects, the on-site monitoring, the optimizations of the water intake and drainage based on a full consideration of environment, the introduction of the standards on the emission and its evaluation, and the comprehensive utilization of thermal discharge.

nuclear power plant  /  thermal discharge  /  environmental impact assessment