  We compare the solutions to the short baseline neutrino anomaly based on
oscillations to sterile neutrinos and the Stochastic Neutrino Mixing Mechanism
(SNMM) through an analysis of the present neutrino data. The SNMM suggests
worse fits than a 3 + 1 sterile neutrino model, although it cannot be discarded
by present data. We propose an experiment to distinguish between both
solutions, based on placing a $^8$Li source inside a 5kton-yr detector (like
SNO). We studied the sensitivity of such an experiment, which makes it possible
to discriminate within $2\sigma$ the SNMM from the 3+1 sterile hypothesis for
some particular values of the relevant parameters in 5 kton-years of running.
