In this study, laboratory study of the behavior of wastewater discharged from the Boston ocean outfall was compared with the predictions of mathematical models. The dta sets cover broad ranges of discharge conditions and oceanic conditions, and are associated with a typical type of outfall discharges with multiport diffusers. The laboratory data sets were obtained in density stratified towing tanks. These data sets were used to evaluate four commonly used models: UM, UDKHDEN, RSB and CORMI$ imes$2 for minimum dilution, the height to the top of the wastefield, and wastefield thickness. For minimum diluation and height to the top of the wastefield, UM and RSB predictions agree well with laboratory data. UDKHDEN overestimated the minimum dilution and height to the top of the wastefield while CORMI$ imes$2 underestimated these values. All of the model predictions for the wastefield thickness were widely scattered. about the measured values. The hydraulic model study reproduced the major features observed in the laboratory. It also afforded considerable insight into the mechanics of mixing of multiport risers which could not have been obtained either from the laboratory test or the mathematical models.