[orson2077]

Modern powerplants are closed-loop and do not consume water, although they may dump heat into it. Water is not consumed (in any great quantity) or contaminated, except that which is recirculated inside.

[pfdietz]

> although maybe they may dump heat into it.

Dumping heat into water is how they consume water. They either evaporate the water directly, or they heat a river, causing it to evaporate more later.