Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) were on hand to greet delegates at the 4th European Water and Wastewater Management Conference in Leeds, with direct reminders that turning Ultra Violet (UV) sewage treatment systems off outside the bathing season dramatically increases the health risk to surfers and waveriders. The surfers, in wetsuits and carrying surfboards emblazoned with illuminous “UV” letters handed out cards reminding the delegates of their obligations to protect water users all year round.
After a successful campaign against Northumbrian Water in 2008 SAS have helped set a precedent. Where there is a presence of water users, year... Read more
It Never Rains But It Pours For Scottish Bathing Waters
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are frustrated with yet another year’s shocking bathing water results for Scotland. During the course of the 2010 Scottish bathing season 13 beaches recorded single sample failures with 4 beaches failing outright to reach bathing water standards that are 34 years old and that will soon be superseded by more stringent standards. A double whammy of bad news for Scottish water users sees Scottish Water turn off their tertiary sewage treatment at Pease Bay, increasing the health risk for surfing at one of Scotland’s... Read more
Ultra Violet (UV) light is the process in sewage treatment that renders sewage effluent clean and safe. Pease Bay in Scotland and Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes on England’s East coast all have their UV light turned off outside the bathing season, thus outside the bathing season the surrounding surf spots have a massive increase in the bacteria load inputted from the sewerage systems.
This massive increase in pathogens like Hep A, Ecoli 0157H, Gastro Enteritis poses a significant health risk to waters users. It’s especially concerning when you take into account surfers are 3 times more at risk from Hep A than... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are relieved to announce that the Ultra Violet (UV) treatment that renders sewage clean and safe has once again been turned back on at the popular Pease Bay, in time for the Scottish Bathing Season. SAS campaigners will be opening the beach with MSP John Lamont by cutting a giant ribbon.
Scottish Water turn off the UV treatment of the sewage discharged at Cove sewage treatment works sewage outside the bathing season. Turning off the UV treatment will result in an immense increase in the bacterial load of the sewage effluent discharged into the... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigners are today relieved to announce that the Ultra Violet (UV) treatment that renders sewage effluent clean and safe, has finally be turned back on by Anglian Water at the popular beaches of Cleethorpes and Mablethorpe. Unfortunately for surfers this is just as the best surf season finishes.
Anglian Water turns off their UV treatment outside the bathing season (1st of October until the 15th of May). Unfortunately for surfers this is the best season for surf. Turning off the UV results in a dramatic increase in the potentially harmful pathogens released to the sea. Pathogens that... Read more
Surfers Against Sewage call for year-round protection for Pease Bay surfers
This year, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) asked all UK water companies if they had any plans to reduce their sewage treatment outside the bathing season (May - September). Outside the bathing season is usually the best period for surf in the UK and reducing sewage treatment increases the health risks for surfers and waveriders.
When SAS asked Scottish Water if they planned to reduce their sewage treatment, thus increasing the health risk to surfers and waveriders, they replied with "It is not a question of switching off treatment outside the bathing... Read more
The SAS campaign team has always punched above it's weight. We do this because we are surfers, water users and started out as SAS members and so the campaigns mean as much to us as they does to you. We put in the long hours, determined that each campaign will end in an SAS victory, a victory for surfers, waveriders and water users all over the UK.
We want to do more, but we need your help. We want to extend the SAS campaign team to every corner of the UK coastline. We want to use our greatest resource, YOU, our... Read more
Clean water campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) welcome the return of full Ultra Violet (UV) treatment for Tynemouth's sewage tomorrow. SAS will use this opportunity to warn other water companies that reducing sewage treatment can have serious impacts on the health of surfers, waveriders and water users. Any future seasonal UV turn off applications will be met with the full force of the SAS campaign team!
In 2006 Northumbrian Water applied for six sewage treatment plants to have their UV treatment turned off outside the bathing season. SAS's successful campaign highlighted the year round use of the sea adjacent to... Read more
