Discussed are a number of proposed beneficial uses of waste heat contained in power plant cooling water. Included are those for which the technical feasibility has been demonstrated in pilot programs and those which are, at best, imaginative ideas. Primary concern is with solving the environmental pollution problem. Seen from this standpoint, a beneficial use must help reduce the thermal pollution problem directly or must provide a profit to help off-set the cost of cooling devices. The use must not result in additional pollution such as that resulting from untreated organic wastes. Some uses, such as the culture of certain fishes, are now at the pilot program, or even commercial, stage. Other uses, such as for industrial processes, require additional research. Integrated systems planned to produce steam as well as electrical power have been successful in special situations. In nearly all cases additional information is needed on the overall economics of proposed methods. This is especially true where high quality heat is taken directly from the power plant steam cycle for another use. Only with a complete economic analysis, including cost of distribution and waste treatment, can the final decision be made as to whether a 'beneficial use' is truly beneficial in the long run. (Author)

"16130FHJ09/70." "[Paper] presented at: Conference on Beneficial Uses of Thermal Discharges, sponsored by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Albany, New York, September 18, 1970." Includes bibliographical references. Microfiche.