Dead in the water? ‘Liquid cremation’ stalls

Council proposal to introduce new method of disposing of bodies attracts unease from regulators

PLANS to offer a “water cremation” for the first time have been put on hold amid concerns about the liquid remains of dead people making their way into the sewer system.

A council in the West Midlands has granted planning permission to offer what it said was a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation.

But there are concerns flushing the waste water used as part of the “alkaline hydrolysis” process down the sewers would prompt what a source described as “the yuck factor” from the public.

Sandwell council is working with a company called Resomation to offer water cremation at Rowley Regis crematorium. According to Sandy Sullivan, the company’s founder, the waste water does not contain DNA from the dead person. Mr Sullivan, 61, told The Sunday Times that “dozens” of crematoria around the UK were interested in installing his machines, which are built by engineers in a workshop in West Yorkshire. He has sold four machines to America where they are operating in Florida, Minnesota and California and, shortly, in Illinois.

Mr Sullivan, a biochemist, expressed hope that the technology might be installed in Rowley Regis “around late spring”.

He said: “There is no technical reason why the liquid can’t go down the drain. It is a very treatable organic liquid. It is sterile and there is no DNA in it. We are copying nature. The body dissolves by soil bacteria and it is a very long process. All we are doing is taking the exact same chemistry and applying heat, which speeds it up. This is a third option, other than cremation and burial.”

The council said it wants to offer people more choice but a water firm covering the area said it was awaiting guidance from the Government on the matter.

In March this year Severn Trent refused the council a “trade effluent” permit – which dictates which substances can go into the sewers.

A spokesman said: “We are looking for guidance from the Government as to whether it is allowed or not, and there is no industry standard that says yes or no.” He said the company was prepared to look again at the issue if guidance was issued on the matter.

A Sandwell council spokesman said: “The funeral industry is evolving and modernising and we want to offer people more choice.

“Water cremation is the next phase in this evolution and would give people an option that is more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation.

“We are working closely with Resomation UK, Water UK and other regulatory bodies to explore all options for the introduction of this new process. Once approved, Rowley Regis Crematorium in Sandwell will be the first in the UK to offer a water cremation.”

A source at Water UK, which represents water providers, said: “We are not convinced and believe the technology needs to be explored in much greater depth. This is an absolute first in the UK. We have serious concerns about the public acceptability of this. It is the liquefied remains of the dead going into the water system. We don’t think the public will like the idea.”

Water UK is understood to be awaiting further Government guidance.