Just like coal plants, nuclear plants require cooling water for plants that have steam turbines. The majority of water used is withdrawn and then released back into the original water source either through direct once through cooling (water released directly back into the water source at a higher temperature) or indirect cooling with cooling towers (heat discharged in cooling towers and water released back into water source). There is also the option for dry cooling where radiators are used to cool water. Whilst these processes require withdrawing large amounts of water, the amount of water consumed is small and is similar to a coal plant.