[Greenbuilding] FW: Green Death and Water Quality

[Bill Hutchins]

more from my wife..........


-----Original Message-----
From: Beth Knox [mailto:bethknox at earthlink.net]
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 11:21 AM
To: Bill Hutchins
Subject: Re: [Greenbuilding] Green Death and Water Quality


There are standard common sense guidelines regarding burial in relation to
water sources.  Not within 150 ft, not obviously in a flood plain, etc. "Six
feet under" is overkill (ETP...) although some states require it.
My understanding is micro-organism activity occurs up to about 2 1/2 ft
down, and most requirements are for 2-3 ft. of earth ON TOP of the body, so
you are not
going to get into someone's well that way.  The Earth/earth will do its
work, absorbing back, if you let it.

Which is a sad comment on current burial practices - most cemeteries require
that burials occur in a concrete vault or liner.  They do this so that there
is no depression in the earth as the coffin and body decompose. This is a
purely cosmetic consideration - they want nice flat lawns that can be mown
more easily.  So don't let anyone tell you concrete liners are a safety
concern having to do with a water table, nor is it ever required by law (the
irony -
if a body has been embalmed, it's better kept in a concrete liner).

Bottom line - we are not being returned to the earth. We are not feeding the
earth.  I'll let your imagination do the work of realizing what happens to a
body encased in a concrete box in the ground with no air...

Beth Knox
www.crossings.net