surfing against sewage

Why SAS?
Surfers Against Sewage are a UK non-profit making organisation campaigning for an end to the discharge of raw and partially treated sewage and toxic waste within our inland waters and oceans.

Clean beaches and rivers are a vital resource for the well-being of everyone and close to the hearts of all surfers and swimmers.

Surfers against Sewage was started by water users for water users and exists to give recreational water users a voice. The SAS mission is to ensure that anyone who wishes to enjoy the water environment, whether as a year-round surfer or a summer time beach goer, can do so without fear of sickness or long-term illness.

SAS believe that no one should be forced to play Russian roulette with their health and is campaigning at all levels to change the existing situation. Anyone who cares about quality of life and the lives of their children should be part of the SAS campaign to help transform the way the UK's water environment is treated.

With a proven reputation as a hard-hitting solution-based campaign, SAS has earned a place in the debate, but it is the support and belief of members which means the organisation can use that position to full advantage and take the SAS message to the highest level.

Sometimes the men in suits need a little reality check; the opportunity to understand how the decisions made in the comfort of their offices affect the people in the water. SAS provide that reality check in a refreshing yet resolute way, and it's all thanks to members' support.

Now, with a plethora of water quality legislation flooding out of Europe, SAS need your support more than ever. If you want to ensure that the people using the water are kept at the centre of the debate, if you care about the quality of the water, the future health of the planet and the health of generations to come, then now is the time to invest in SAS.

Why now?
After fourteen years of campaigning, SAS is now part of the core team of decision makers re-writing key water legislation that will affect every inland and coastal recreational water user in the UK. It has taken twelve years for SAS to reach this position and for the European Commission to agree that this piece of legislation, the Bathing Water Directive, does not properly protect recreational water users and should be revised.

If the Directive contains proposed SAS revisions, it will mean that the need for year round protection at sites that are regularly used for surfing, kayaking, windsurfing and dinghy sailing will have been recognised and essential water quality information will be provided to ensure users can make an informed choice before entering the water.

SAS is at a crucial point in this campaign and it is vital that pressure is maintained to ensure water users' needs are recognised by legislators and politicians.

Let SAS represent you. Help shake the cosy world of polluters and politicians and bring decision making back to the people who matter. To the people who have to put their faith in politicians and civil servants, who ultimately fail them, and polluters who show a complete disregard for the health of the planet or its people.

Throughout the website there is proof that SAS can deliver. The campaign stems from a solid base of fact and substantiated evidence, creating awareness of the problems and offering viable sustainable solutions

Would you believe…you can contract Hepatitis A from water where there is no indication that sewage is present or you can swallow cancer-inducing radioactive particles or chemicals that could affect the health of your unborn child, from perfectly legal discharges. If this sounds scary, then do something about it… [extract taken from the SAS website]
Join SAS and make your voice heard

.