Council blocked from using ‘liquid cremation’ service over fears remains of the dead will get into water system

A new ‘liquid cremation’ service that a UK council had planned to use has been blocked from going ahead over fears the remains of dead people would make their way into the water system.

Sandwell Council in Oldbury has been granted planning permission to offer what it said is 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.

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.”

The council is working with British company Resomation to offer water cremation at Rowley Regis crematorium.

Company founder Sandy Sullivan, 61, defended the service, insisting that crematoriums across the UK wanted to introduce it.

He told The Sunday Times: “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.

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“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.”

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 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.

Yahoo News has contacted Resomation to see if Mr Sullivan would use the service himself when he dies.