Biofouling surveillance at a power station with seawater intake gates

Biofouling monitoring of the seawater intake gates of Madras' atomic power station (MAPS) in India was carried out for a period of two years. The settlement and growth rates, composition, and biomass of fouling between the intake filter gates and the test panels exposed in the coastal waters were compared and the results showed significant differences. The major foulant of the tunnel -green mussel, Perna viridis, and barnacle, Megabalanus tintinnabulum - though generally absent on test panels, was present on the intake gates. Relatively-high growth rates with heavy biomass were found at the intake gates as compared to the test panel. The study suggests that the intake gates can be used for a reliable fouling prediction in coastal power plants. (Author)