Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516608
9 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 28 FEBRUARY 2024 NEWS JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt THE Environmental Health Di- rectorate is objecting to the de- velopment of a plant that will provide cremation by water on a vacant site next to the Zabbar cemetery. The objection is because cur- rent legislation on burials does not regulate the operations of this method of burial, also known as aquamation. Legislation is in fact limited to the regulation of traditional bur- ials and cremation by fire and does not foresee cremation by water. Kate and Jeremy Muscat have applied to build a resomation centre – the name given to such a facility – on land they co-own next to the Żabbar cemetery which is presently designated for the future extension of the local- ity's cemetery. Speaking to MaltaToday last year the project proponents stressed that the process is more sterile and environmen- tally friendly than traditional cremation, with no fumes emit- ted and no DNA of the deceased remaining in the water that is left over and disposed of after- wards. Plans for the cemetery were presented by architect Maria Schembri Grima in October. Aquamation, also known as "alkaline hydrolysis" or water cremation, is an increasing- ly popular cremation method abroad which is billed as more environmentally friendly than its fire-based alternative. When the body of the deceased is aquamated, it is immersed in a mixture of water and an al- kali, such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, and heated to around 150°C inside a pressurised container for around four hours. The process dissolves everything except bones, which are then dried and reduced to a fine white powder. But the Zabbar local council has welcomed the objection by the Environmental Health Di- rectorate and has endorsed a petition signed by over 150 res- idents objecting to the construc- tion of a modern facility next to the old cemetery. According to the council the proposed development does not respect the architecture of the existing cemetery built in 1813 and will conflict with the sym- metry and balance that charac- terises the architecture of "the holy place". It also expressed concern on the impact of excavations on the recently restored cemetery chapel and the Niche of Jesus the Redeemer which are located within less than 15m away from the proposed excavation. The council also warned that being the first facility of its kind in Malta, the water cremation fa- cility will be catering for all peo- ple living in the Maltese islands and not exclusively for the local community of Haz-Zabbar. The council also expressed concern that the project being the only one of this kind in Malta would attract more traffic in the area and would hinder its plans to change Misrah San Gak- bu (UCA area) to a pedestrian friendly zone. Neither is the local council keen on Zabbar being the first locality faced with a similar ap- plication, arguing that it makes more sense to locate such a fa- cility at Mater Dei Hospital or in its vicinity. The local council is also calling for a Social Impact Assessment on the proposed development. The council also raised con- cerns on the technical process, noting that the plant will require a considerable amount of water. "It is not known from where such quantities may be supplied and how this quantity of water shall be disposed of, considering the fact that no reservoir seems to be proposed in the develop- ment." Moreover, should the supply be provided by the WSC mains, the council is concerned that this may result in lower mains pres- sure for the surrounding area. The council had last year suc- cessfully objected to a residen- tial development on another ar- ea next to the cemetery on land which is also designated in the local plan for the possible future extension of the existing ceme- tery. Water cremation hits a snag as health authorities object Zabbar council is also objecting to the development that will be the first of its kind in Malta if it goes ahead