Cemeteries, Burials & The Water Environment Guidance Notes" e
Cemeteries, Burials &
The Water Environment
Guidance Notes
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Environment
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Overview
Why is it important to protect groundwater?
How can cemeteries contaminate groundwater?
What information do NIEA require before they can assess if a
cemetery development/ extension will pose a threat to groundwater?
Desktop Study
Intrusive Site investigation
Risk Assessment
Guidelines for planning cemeteries
Checklist
References
Appendix A - Information Sources
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Overview
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has a duty to protect
surface water and groundwater quality. The legislative framework for this is
detailed in the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 and the Groundwater
Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. In addition to our own environmental
protection work, NIEA also acts as a consultee for Planning Service,
responding to and advising on matters relating to environmental protection
during development.
The development of new cemetery sites /graveyards or extensions to such
sites has the potential to result in impact on the local water environment
and in particular, the groundwater underlying the site. It is important when
planning such sites that consideration is given to possible Impacts and where
appropriate, ensuring that adequate site investigation and risk assessment is
undertaken. The extent of site investigation and risk assessment should be
proportionate to the size of the proposed development.
Where NIEA are not provided with this information along with a planning
application, we will request the work be undertaken and a report submitted
before we will make comment. This may hold up the consultation process.
This guidance note is intended to inform those responsible for developing
such sites about the issues which should be considered. In addition, further
sources of information have been listed.
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Why is it important to protect groundwater?
Groundwater has three major uses in Northern Ireland:
public and private drinking water supply;
abstractions for agricultural and industrial purposes, including bottled
Imineral'waters; and
maintenance of flow and water levels in rivers, lakes and wetlands,
particularly during times of low rainfall.
The protection of groundwater from the risk of possible contamination
is important because pollutants could cause health problems in human
beings, reduce the quality of farming and agricultural products, make the
water unsuitable for certain industrial processes and pose a threat to our
countryside and environment including their suitability for recreational
purposes. in summary, the contamination of groundwater can not only have
health and environmental impacts, but also serious economic consequences.
How can cemeteries contaminate groundwater?
After a while in the ground a body and its coffin will begin to decay. As this
happens fluids can leach out and may eventually work their way down to the
groundwater underlying the site. This fluid may contain embalming fluid,
pathogens /microbes and nitrogen compounds which could contaminate
groundwater. In some cases it may also pose a health risk if it contaminates a
groundwater -fed drinking water source.
As groundwater can travel considerable distances underground (and with it
any pollutants) it is necessary to consider the possible risk of groundwater
contamination when planning new graveyards or cemeteries.
What information do NIEA require before they can assess
if a cemetery development/ extension will pose a threat to
groundwater?
As said before we will require a site investigation and risk assessment of the
site all presented in a written report. This report should contain:
A desktop study (see information below);
Intrusive site investigation;
Risk assessment; and
The proposed layout of the site (this is the final stage as the above tasks
will inform the site planning)
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Desktop Study
When considering use of land for burial purposes, it is normal practice for
an initial desktop assessment to be undertaken using information readily
available from a variety of sources (see Appendix A). This allows for initial
consideration of the potential issues and risks associated with the specific
site based upon geological setting, water quality and proposed burial rate
per annum.
For existing sites, important local knowledge about the ground /geological
conditions can be obtained through discussion with the local grave digger.
Based upon this initial consideration, the need for intrusive investigation can
be better assessed, taking into account the proposed scale and sensitivity of
the site location. Further information regarding this decision process can be
found in the Environment Agency for England and Wales (2002) guidance
document.
Intrusive Site investigation
The absolute minimum requirement for a site investigation should normally
consist of a site walkover and the digging of trial pits.
The site walkover should aim to identify any boreholes, watercourses and
sensitive targets in the proximity of the proposed site (see previous section)
and determine their distance from or position within the proposed site. This
will allow features to be mapped for submission along with the report and
accompanying planning application.
The trial pits should be excavated to a depth of between 0.5 —1 metre below
the Intended depth of the grave to assess the site and soil for its suitability
as a burial site. The number of trial pits will depend on the size of the site.
Other points for consideration include:
Are there any old, metal water mains passing beneath the cemetery
whose corrosion could be accelerated?
Is there any artificial drainage within the ground, associated with
previous /existing land use?
Photographs of the trial pits should be included in the final written report.
For certain large scale and /or sensitive sites there may be a need to
undertake further intrusive site investigation using borehole drilling and
other assessment techniques.
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Diagram to illustrate total investigation depth
Approximate overall
investigative depth
2.8m prior to site
development.
Base of burial
Risk Assessment
At least 1 m
covering of soil
Approximate depth of
grave 1.8m
At least 1 m of subsoil
below base of burial pit
The final risk assessment will be based upon data and knowledge gained
from the desktop assessment and the intrusive site investigation. The scope
of the risk assessment required will be dependent on site specific factors such
as the local vulnerability of groundwater and the scale of the site proposed.
Further guidance on risk assessment can be found in the Environment
Agency for England and Wales (2002) guidance document.
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Guidelines for planning cemeteries
Once you have gathered all the information above, this will allow you to start
planning the layout of the proposed burial site. The following should be
taken into consideration when doing this:
Burial plots should be at least 250 m away from a borehole, spring or well
used for the supply of drinking water and /or bottling of mineral water.
Burial plots should be at least 50 m away from all other boreholes,
springs or wells.
Burial plots should be at least 50 m away from a river, canal, lake, wetland
or the coast.
Burial plots should be at least' 0 m away from field drains (this also
includes old agricultural drainage systems no longer in use as they can
act as preferential pathways).
If bedrock is encountered in the trial pit, that area of the site should not
be used for burials
The area of the site is not suitable for burial if there is standing water at
the bottom of the burial pit when first dug.
Diagram to illustrate above points
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10m
50m
250m
Should beat least / m of
covering soil
Should be no sand / gravel
ind no standing water
a Should beat least 1m of subsoil
below the base of the burial pit
The completed written report and accompanying site plan should be
submitted to Planning Service along with the planning application
documentation. Please ensure your submission includes everything
mentioned in the checklist on the follow page.
RRI
Desktop study - Information should include local
geology (bedrock and superficial), groundwater
vulnerability rating, soil type, historical land use, locations
of nearby water features and drainage features, locations
of nearby surface and groundwater abstractions,
locations of nearby wells /boreholes used as a drinking
water supply, locations of other sensitive receptors in
the vicinity (like protected sites). You must include the
proposed burial rate per year and an explanation of how
you have arrived at this figure. It may also be useful
to include knowledge of the site geology by the local
gravedigger.
Intrusive site investigation - Include full description
of geology in the trial pits /boreholes with logs and
photographs to prove this. Log depth to bedrock and
depth of any water strikes. A map showing location
of trial pits /boreholes within the site should be
included. The number of trial pits /boreholes should be
proportionate to the size of the proposed development.
Map of proposed site layout - this should only be
undertaken after consideration of all the information
gathered above, in conjunction with recommended
cemetery planning guidelines mentioned in previous
sections. Note: your site assessment may mean that some
areas of your site are unsuitable for graves and should
therefore be used for pathways /car parks /other features.
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References
Cenielern, Burials & Ihefter knvironme it
Robin N. S. (1996) hydrogeologyof Northern Ireland. London: HMSO forthe British Geological Survey
C P Young, K M Blackmore, P Reynolds and A Leavens (2002) Pollution Potential of Cemeteries. R &D Technical Report
P223. Environment Agency for England and Wales.
Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Sustainable Development, Scottish Office (1996) Environmental Policy
Number 19 Groundwater Protection Policy for Scotland, J Cemetery Development and Green Burial [Online], www,
sepa.org.0 k/pdf /groundwater /policy /19_J.pdf
National Groundwater and Contaminated Land Centre. Assessing the groundwater pollution potential of cemeteries
(3rd Edy. Environment Agency for England and Wales. Product code: SCHO0404BGLA -E -E
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Northern Ireland Environment Agency
Water Management Unit
17 Antrim Road
Lisburn
BT28 3AL
(028) 9262 3100
www.ni-environment.gov.uk
Our airs is to protect, conserve and promote the
natural and built envirournent for the benefit of
present and future generations.
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