ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book presents methods and approaches for assessing the source, behavior, and effects of micropollutants in lakes. Applied to Lake Geneva as a case study, the results may be extrapolated to other mid-sized lakes. In many lakes, like Lake Geneva, energy is transferred to the lake surface by wind forcing, which induces motions in deeper layers. In large intermountain lakes, the surrounding mountains can alter wind patterns significantly. The depth of Lake Geneva often limits complete mixing of the water column. In stratified seasons, the presence of the thermocline limits the propagation of wind energy to deeper layers. The book shows that the direct discharge of effluent wastewater into a lake could lead to a localized plume with elevated concentrations of micropollutants. It provides novel insights into the stability and transport of hydrophobic contaminants.
