HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA

The Orange County Sanitation District christened a new $1.3-million ocean research vessel "Nerissa" to test a 35-square-mile stretch of coastal waters, from Crystal Cove to Huntington Beach and Seal Beach. It will also test the wastewater discharge released 200 feet below the surface from an outfall pipe 4 1/2 miles off the coast of Huntington Beach. The 58-foot boat will conduct three types of monitoring ' core monitoring, regional studies and in-depth studies. Through core monitoring, crew members will analyze data and see the effects of treated wastewater on marine life. The crew will test for pH, oxygen and bacteria levels at different water depths. The boat's name, Nerissa, was derived from Greek mythology. Nerissa lived on the bottom of the ocean and rendered protection and assistance to the sailors who passed by.