Surfers Against Sewage

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) is an environmental and health pressure group based in St Agnes Cornwall, UK.

Campaign
Surfers Against Sewage campaign for clean, safe recreational waters, free from sewage effluents, toxic chemicals and nuclear waste. Using a solution based argument of viable and sustainable alternatives, SAS highlight the inherent flaws in current practices, attitudes and legislation, challenging industry, legislators and politicians to end their 'pump and dump' policies.

History
Surfers Against Sewage was formed to tackle the sewage and related problems at the local beaches of St Agnes, Chapel Porth and Porthtowan, after a public meeting on 10 May, 1990. The first media coverage was broadcast shortly afterward on BBC Spotlight Southwest. On 7 June, the first wetsuited and gasmasked 'hit squad' demonstration took place at the South West Water exhibition stand at the Royal Cornwall Show. In September, SAS attended the first South West Water Annual General Meeting as shareholders, presenting verbal evidence of the sewage problem to shareholders and directors inside the meeting. By the end of 1990 SAS had achieved a membership of 2,000 which includes many celebrities and artists such as Damien Hirst, Banksy and Jamie Hewlett.