Measuring the Impacts of the South Bay Ocean Outfall 
at the US-Mexico Border

Results of December 28 testing at South Bay Ocean Outfall
Table 1: Water Clarity
Table 2: Bacteria testing
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Table 1: Results of Water Clarity Measurements
STATION DEPTH TEMPERATURE SECCHI VISIBILITY
B-1 
(1 mile from shore)		 54 FEET 13.1 CELSIUS 14 feet 9 inches
B-2
(2 miles from shore)		 69 FEET 13.1 CELSIUS 15 feet
B-3- OUTFALL
(3 miles from shore)		 94 FEET 13.0 CELSIUS 8 feet 6 inches
B-4
(4 miles from shore)		 118 FEET 14.1 CELSIUS 28 feet 11 inches
B-5
(5 miles from shore)		 135 FEET 14.2 CELSIUS 31 feet 11 inches
Note: Secchi results corrected January 4- needed to deduct 3 feet from station 1, 2, 4 and 5 to account for distance from water to edge of boat)

 
Table 2: Results of Bacteria testing conducted at State Certified Lab
Sample Site: South Bay Ocean Outfall
(Tests conducted on December 29, 1999, by the Regional Water Quality Control Board detected similar values of bacteria in the outfall location.)
Date
  Coliform, Total NPDES 
Permit limits
(see note 2)
Coliform, Fecal
  NPDES 
Permit limits
(see note 2)
12/28/1999
  MPN/100 ml/gm
In all shellfish harvest areas
MPN/100 ml/gm
  1000 ft. from shore or at 
30 ft. deep
Sample #1 (from B-3)
  >/=16,000
<70
>/=16,000
  <200
Sample #2 (from B-3)
  >/=16,000
<70
>/=16,000
  <200
Sample #3 (see note 1)
(from B-5)
  240
<70
240
  <200
Sample Net
(from B-3)
  >/=16,000
<70
>/=16,000
 <200
(Gram Stain of Net showed presence of bacteria 4+)
NOTE 1: Sample 3 was taken at B-5, 2 miles west of the outfall (station B-3), and served as a reference for cleaner water away from the outfall site.

NOTE 2: These values are for comparison only. While these standards may not currently apply in the outfall area, which is 3 miles from shore and 94 feet deep, we observed fishing and lobster trapping near the discharge site.
 Page 3- Dec. 28
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Created January 2000
All information and photos 
© Lori Saldaña 
For more information please contact Lori Saldaña

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