Plans for the UK’s first “water cremation” service have been put on hold following concerns being raised about “liquified” human remains entering the water system.
Sandwell Council in the West Midlands has been granted planning permission to offer the “environmentally friendly” service, but Water UK said it is “not convinced” and is waiting on the government to provide “some guidance”.
Severn Trent refused the council a trade effluent permit for Rowley Regis crematorium back in March and is also calling for government guidance and an industry standard to be introduced.
Sandwell Council’s planning committee approved plans for an extension at the crematorium to house the £300,000 Resomator machine, invented by British company Resomation.
On Resomation’s website, it explains the waste water after the cremation is “safely returned to the water cycle free from any traces of DNA.”
But a spokesperson from Water UK, said: “We are not convinced and believe the technology needs to be explored in much greater depth.”
They added: “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.”
A spokesperson for Severn Trent, said: “In the absence of guidance from government on this matter, and without an industry standard or a thorough appraisal of public opinion, Severn Trent has refused to accept a discharge from this process to our sewers.”
The process of “water cremation” involves a body being placed in a metal chamber, where it is reduced to liquid and ash using a process known as alkaline hydrolysis. It takes around three to four hours and Resomation says the process produces a third less greenhouse gas than cremation and uses “significantly” less energy.
Sandwell Council said it hoped to “offer people more choice” and the crematorium initially planned to have the UK’s first Resomator machine fully operational by September. The service is already being provided in parts of America.
Sandy Sullivan, the founder of Resomation, said: “Over 135 years ago flame cremation offered fundamental change in the way we approached human disposition and some serious convincing was required before it was fully accepted.
“Resomation now offers a new, innovative yet dignified approach which uses significantly less energy and emits significantly less greenhouse gasses than flame cremation and is another needed option that the public clearly wants and the environment clearly needs.”
Water UK said no industry standard can be made until there is guidance from the government and until such a time, trade effluent consent cannot be granted.