Thermal Power stations don't "consume" water, they simply borrow it for cooling purposes.
It is pumped from the sea/river source, circulated and returned to the source abeit slightly warmer.
It circulates, just like your car radiator.
Shutting down a thermal power station does not "free up" water.
And the so called pollution you see coming from the cooling towers is simply water vapour, which eventually, when condensed, returns as rain.
