Abstract: In recent years,the emission permit system is vigorously carried out in China. Thermal power industry,as a national pillar industry and a large water user,has not been paid much attention to water pollutants during the implementation of the system. The relevant statistical data of thermal power wastewater is unclear,and the discharge performance is vague,which makes it difficult to be included in the emission trading system. Since thermal power generation in China gradually entered the mature period in 2008,the water use for thermal power enterprises in various provinces and cities has formed the obvious regional features since the mature period. In order to better carry out discharge license system in accordance with the requirements of " control of pollutant discharge permit system implementation plan",based on the regional water resources situation,the typical provinces( Shandong and Guangdong) were choosed to emphatically analyze the present situation of coal waste water. According to the 2015 national provincial environmental statistics,the water pollution factor characteristics of the thermal power industry in selected region were sorted out. Firstly,the related water indicators of thermal power enterprises were defined. Thermal power plants need a large amount of cooling water to cool the unit. The difference in cooling methods determined the difference in cooling water amount of thermal power plants. The enterprise's cooling technology was determined according to the three indicators. Secondly,the two main types of discharge directionwere determined. Finally,the treatment efficiency of water pollution factors was compared. The characteristic water pollution factors were selected. The performance evaluation of thermal power industry wastewater was carried out,including wastewater emissions performance calculation and main water pollution discharge performance factor calculation.each region according to the performance calculation results of its own in the thermal power industry water use and emissions problems targeted policy,the implementation of the thermal power wastewater discharge permit system was dedicated to provide with basic support. The results show that the total emission control of thermal power enterprises should be based on the discharge performance of waste water The purpose of the wastewater discharge performance evaluation and regional characteristic research is to explore the association between power and waste water discharge,and hydrological conditions of the region,generation efficiency and cooling method. The level of wastewater treatment in water shortage areas below is lower than that in water resource area,which can lead to the aggravation of bad water.The corresponding wastewater treatment policies can be formulated to find a balance point between the emissions trading and investment balance on wastewater treatment equipment. The obstacles existing in emission trading at the present stage are summarized. The water pollutants in thermal power industry are not taken seriously,resulting in inaccurate emission statistics,which brings difficulties to formulate policy; The Internet real-time monitoring platform has not been established,so the water quality and quantity discharged by thermal power enterprises cannot be monitored in real time. The pollution source tracking method is adopted to urge the non-conforming enterprises to rectify and give priority to promoting the emission reduction of water pollutants through emission right trading. the wastewater discharge performance shows that the situation varies greatly among different regions. Considering that the drainage basin is the main source of wastewater discharge,it is based on the drainage basin division. Government agencies put forward total reduction requirements to enterprises with higher performance,and enterprises with lower performance were given preferential policies on emission trading.