Where did the last 12 months go? Looking back, 2011 has been great for SAS, thanks mainly to the passion and power from our supporters. The successes and achievements detailed in this round belong to you all. And as Campaign Director I’d like to say a massive thank you for the help. The team take you all with us to every meeting with Ministers, whenever we challenge polluting industries and when we are on the beaches physically making it better!
SEWAGE
Since going live in May our Sewage Alert Service has sent almost 80,000 text alerts, warning you when raw sewage has... Read more
SAS Sewage Alert Service, Text Alerts Now Available For South West Beaches
17 more beaches can now offer free real time text warnings when sewage spills.
We are pleased to welcome an extra 17 new beaches across Cornwall, Devon and Saltburn to their revolutionary Sewage Alert Service. We have spent the past year working closely with South West Water (SWW), Northumbrian Water the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and Visit Cornwall. SAS commend the water companies for voluntarily providing SAS with real time information on raw sewage discharges from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs). There are now 44 beaches around England and Wales where we... Read more
Real time water quality warnings issued to safeguard users at 10 popular beaches
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) flagship Sewage Alerts Service text message warnings kicked into action last weekend during heavy downpours at some of the most popular beaches in Wales and Southern England.
For the first time ever beach users were warned in real time during raw sewage discharges at popular beaches. SAS provided this vital water quality information FREE to beach users, surfers and watersports enthusiasts who had registered for SAS’s Sewage Alert Service text alerts. . The information was also updated live on SAS’s online... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) warn the water industry there’s more to be concerned about than celebrate. Today Defra will release the 2010 bathing season results for the UK and both water companies and Government agencies will be quick to boast about an increase in beaches attaining the guideline standards. Whilst trying their hardest to divert attention away from 16 beaches failing the 34 year old, inadequate and outdated water quality standards and a reduction in beaches failing to attain the bare minimum mandatory standards.
SAS are urging the water industry not to believe their own press. Their achievements... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are celebrating this bank holiday Monday as Keep Britain Tidy commit to warning systems informing the public after sewage discharges on Blue Flag beaches. This commitment is a direct response to SAS exposing over 25% of the UK’s Blue Flags as currently failing to meet the imperative Blue Flag regulations and failing to warn the public after sewage spills. SAS are confident that next year’s Blue Flag beaches will provide beach lovers with an enhanced beach experience.
On 06/08/10 SAS raised their own brown flags on Blue Flag beaches that they believe have Combined... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are extremely disappointed with the Planning Inspector's weak ruling, requiring water companies to make only minor improvements to their 4,000 unregulated Combine Sewer Overflows (CSOs). These minor improvements fall far short of what is needed to protect and improve the environment and SAS feel this has been an opportunity lost.
SAS supported the Environment Agency's proposed conditions, which didn't require excessive investment. Yet incredible, after 20 years of leniency, rather than embrace the decision with good grace the water companies involved appealed against 94% of the discharge consents! The appeal was brought before the... 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
With the States of Guernsey meeting on Wednesday to decide the future of wastewater charges, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) campaigners are reminding Deputies that last year's bathing water results were again very disappointing and in years to come are likely only to get worse as European Bathing Water legislation is strengthened.
Having received copies of the 2008 water quality data it appears more than half of Guernsey's designated bathing waters have failed to meet Europe's guideline standard on water quality, with Pembroke beach failing all together.
With a recent strengthening of Europe's water legislation, meeting new bathing water quality standards of the... Read more
