48 
Discussion 
The presence of extensive coliform fields around the two 
outfalls where unchlorinated effluent is now being discharged 
makes it appear certain that a similar field will be built up 
around the proposed new effluent line in Santa Monica Bay. 
Considering current directions and the volume of solids to be 
| discharged, there is every reason to believe that the coliform 
field will eventually reach the beach zone as it apparently has 
around the Orange County outfall. The expected occurrence of 
such a field raises several important problems that will be 
discussed in turn. 
Since there are at present no specifications relating 
directly to the coliform content of the sediments per se, the 
question of compliance or non-compliance with State Standards 
arises only indirectly. In attempting to explain the occurrence 
of high beach counts in the vicinity of the Orange County out- 
fall in spite of the rapid disappearance rate for coliforms 
measured in that area, one possibility proposed was that the 
high counts might be related to the disturbance of the bottom 
coliform fieid during periods of strong wave action (see May 1 
report). This proposal was put forth before the full extent 
of the coliform field in the sediments around this outfall was 
known and the subsequent finding of relatively high counts even 
at the water line certainly made the idea more plausible. If 
one accepts the conclusion that a similar field wiil be bwilt 
up around the proposed Hyperion outfall, then the possibility 
that bottom coliforms might contribute to the beach counts must 
be considered for the Santa Monica Bay area also. Actually there 
