FYIwww.nuclear.foe.org.auApril 2018A number of problems...

FYI


www.nuclear.foe.org.au
April 2018
A number of problems associated with the nuclear
industry are much-discussed – the contribution of
"peaceful" nuclear programs to the proliferation
of nuclear weapons, the nuclear waste legacy, and
the small risk of catastrophic accidents or attacks.
Less well understood are the various impacts of
the nuclear industry on water resources.
Water scarcity is already impacting on the power
industry in Australia, largely because of our heavy
reliance on water-guzzling coal-fired plants.
Introducing nuclear power – the most waterintensive of all electricity sources – could
exacerbate those problems.
Current problems and issues in Australia include:
• expensive long-distance water transportation
to some power plants because of dwindling
local water supplies;
• reduced electrical generating capacity and
output at some coal and hydro plants;
• increased prices for water;
• higher and more volatile electricity prices;
• relaxation of laws and regulations concerning
usage of river water and groundwater for
some power plants;
• increased risks of blackouts; and
• intensified competition for scarce water
resources between power plants, agriculture,
residences, industries, environmental flows,
etc.
Current problems have led power utilities to
explore alternatives such as the use of
wastewater, groundwater or desalination. There is
also an expectation that new plants are more
likely to be built on the coast and use seawater.
The use of dry (air) cooling systems may become
more common but air-cooled plants are more
expensive, less efficient and emit more
greenhouse gases.