Thermal pollution is easily dissipated by allowing water to enter and stand in a reservoir before it is returned to its original river, lake, creek, etc. To detect changes in temperature, test samples are taken from the exit point of the power plant, the entrance point into the original body of water and usually in the middle of the reservoir, and in the middle of the original body of water.
Samples will be taken from the Fort Worth TU Electric Handley Power Station and the Coppell TU Electric North Lake Power Plant (owned by Irving). Data will be collected and analyzed in a follow up study by students from Coppell Middle School East and P.L. Dunbar High School in Fort Worth, Texas. The tentative plan for tests to be run on these samples include: plankton (standard plate count), temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, alkalinity, chloride, sulfates, total iron, hardness, carbon analysis, relative light penetration, coliform, and species diversity. The actual test will be determined pending funding and cooperation with TU Electric and the school districts. This study will continue for an undetermined number of years. Data will be collected, graphed and analyzed by student groups. Analyses might include short term and long term effects as well as comparisons between the two different power plants.
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