A numerical model has been developed by employing a finite element method to simulate the depth-averaged 2-D dispersion of the heat pollutant, which is an important pollutant material in natural streams. Among the finite element methods, the Streamline Upwind/Petrov Galerkin (SUPG) method was applied. Also both linear and quadratic elements can be applied so that irregular river boundaries can be easily represented. To show the movement of heat pollutants, the reaction term describing heat transfer was represented as an equation in which sink/source term is proportional to the difference between the equilibrium temperature and water surface temperature. The equation was expressed so that the water surface temperature changes according to the temperature transfer coefficient and the equilibrium temperature. For the calibration of the model developed, analytic and numerical results from a case of rectangular channel with full width continuous injection have been compared in a steady state. The comparisons showed that the numerical results were in good agreement with analytical solutions. The application site was selected from the downstream of Paldang dam to Jamsil submerged weir, and overall length of this site is about 22.5 km. The change of water temperature caused by the discharge from the Guri sewage treatment plant has been simulated, and results were similar to the observed data. Overall it is concluded that the developed model can represent the water temperature changes due to heat transport accurately. But the verification using observed data will further enhance the validity of the model.