Earth Summit Leaders Urged to Prioritize Water Reuse

Clean water advocates Surfers against Sewage (SAS) are calling on the world's leaders to find a realistic, practical and long term solution to the world's water issues when the Earth Summit begins in Johannesburg next week.

Key to the debate is sustainability. In particular the need for water reuse to provide the developing world with a safe and constant water supply and as well as a solution for managing waste.

Photocall: At 10:00am on Thursday 22nd August an SAS delegation of gas masked wetsuited surfers, with the message 'Sustainable Water for Sustainable Life' emblazoned across their surfboards, will 'get wet' over water reuse at the fountain in London's Trafalgar Square. At 10:30am they will present a large bag of recycled sewage sludge to the Ambassador at the South African High Commission on the edge of the square.

SAS are fearful that world leaders and big business will hijack the water debate, which is one of the five central themes of the summit. Developing nations could be 'sold' technologies and expertise that have in the past wasted water and damaged the environment.

To date, developed nations have failed to embrace reuse technology. In particular water companies have failed to reuse water from treated sewage, seeing it as a waste product rather than a resource.

In a sustainable environment recycled water could easily be used for irrigation of crops or as a coolant for industry. Similarly, sludge (a by-product of treating sewage) can be spread on land to grow energy crops such as linseed oil for green diesel or used directly or indirectly to generate renewable energy, in processes such as gasification.

Vicky Garner, Campaigns Director for SAS said: "Before we start exporting our knowledge and technologies to these countries we must surely look for truly sustainable solutions at home. We must be mindful of our mistakes and ensure that the agenda of the developed world only become the agenda of the developing world if it is best for them long term."

For more information please contact Richard or Vicky on: 01872 553001 or Mobile 07811 963562/07817 401480

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