Some basic features of submerged wastefield formation due to ocean outfalls are reported. Dilution was found to increase with distance from the diffuser until it reaches a maximum value after which it remains constant. The zone of increasing dilution is the initial mixing region whose length is predicted for strong perpendicular currents by interpreting it as the distance at which the buoyancy-induced turbulence collapses. An expression for lateral spreading in parallel currents is derived which is found to be of the same form as for unstratified currents, except that the rate of spreading in stratified currents is much slower. An expression for the rate of spreading in perpendicular currents is derived by assuming results from mixed-region collapse can be applied. An applications example shows that the initial mixing region can extend for several hundred meters downstream from the discharge. Because of gravitational spreading, a line diffuser will produce a wastefield width comparable to the diffuser length for most oceanic conditions, suggesting that Y or similarly complex diffuser configurations are not necessary to produce a widely dispersed wastefield. (Copyright (c) ASCE, 1989.)

"To be submitted to Journal of Hydrological Engineering, ASCE." "EPA/600/J-89/074." "Journal article." "March 1988." Microfiche.