Water abstraction

What is it: 

Abstraction involves taking water, via pipe, from the sea, using it for an industrial process and then returning it to the sea. Most abstracted water is used for cooling. There is a limit placed on the temperature at which water can be returned. The majority of coastal water abstractions, by volume, are for power stations.

SEPA regulates the abstraction of water from the marine environment.

Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas: 
This information page is part of the theme: 
Water abstraction is used at coastal power stations such as Torness Power Station, East Lothian © Marine Scotland