--- title: "Aquamation" id: "1863" type: "page" slug: "aquamation" published_at: "2020-10-27T15:08:52+00:00" modified_at: "2026-06-10T10:48:33+00:00" url: "https://cremationink.com/aquamation/" markdown_url: "https://cremationink.com/aquamation.md" excerpt: "Aquamation Understanding The Process of Aquamation Another Option? When the time comes to say goodbye to someone you..." --- # Aquamation ### Understanding The Process of Aquamation ## Another Option? When the time comes to say goodbye to someone you love, whether a person or a treasured pet, more families are looking for a gentler, greener way to lay them to rest. Aquamation is one of those choices, and it is steadily becoming a respected alternative to traditional flame cremation across the world. Also known as water cremation, flameless cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, aquamation uses water rather than fire to return the body gently to nature. It is kinder on the environment, it leaves you with more of your loved one’s remains to keep, and many families find comfort in its calm, natural approach at such a difficult time. ![aquamation near me](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/aquamation-near-me.jpg) ## What Is Aquamation ? Aquamation is basically, as the name suggests, the same process that is applied in cremation, but utilizing water instead of heat to reduce the body of the loved one. Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a process in which a body is broken down using water and alkaline solutions rather than fire. It is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation, which produces emissions and requires the use of fossil fuels. The process begins by placing the body in a stainless steel container, which is then filled with a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide. The mixture is gently heated and the natural breakdown of the body takes place over several hours. Once the soft tissue has broken down, the remaining liquid is drained and the bones are processed into a fine, powder-like consistency. This is then returned to the family of the deceased. ### Flame-less Cremation Aquamation is often referred to by several different names, including “water cremation,” “flameless cremation,” “green cremation,” “liquid cremation,” and “bio-cremation.” Each of these names reflects a different aspect of the aquamation process, such as its use of water, its environmental benefits, or its similarity to traditional cremation. Families receive on average around 20% more remains from aquamation than they would from a flame cremation. Aquamation also produces no direct emissions to the air and uses comparatively little energy. By contrast, flame cremation needs to vent gases, albeit filtered, out into the environment, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during combustion. Although alkaline hydrolysis is relatively new to the funeral industry, aquamation was first used in the 1990s as a sterile method of treating animals, as an alternative to cremation. Lately it has started to become more embraced by the funeral industry as a whole. ![pet aquamation](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/pet-aquamation.jpg) ## Defining Pet And Human Aquamation In the funeral industry, aquamation is seen as an effective, environmentally friendly option alongside standard cremation and burial. One reason it is considered a green choice is that it avoids the mercury emissions associated with flame cremation, which can release mercury from dental fillings into the air. During aquamation, the body, whether a deceased pet or a human, is gently placed in a clean stainless steel container. A combination of water flow, temperature and alkalinity is used to accelerate the natural process of tissue hydrolysis. Aquamation, technically known as alkaline hydrolysis, uses a catalyst called alkali, the chemical opposite of acid. A combination of alkalis (sodium and potassium hydroxide) is used to break the body down. The whole process is based around speeding up the natural decomposition of a body, something which takes years when the beloved is buried underground. With aquamation, this reduction and removal of the organic tissue happens in hours instead of years. All that is left is the bones, which, similar to the cremation process, are then placed in a specialised machine to reduce them to a more even particle size. The process is clean for the environment, and the remaining water is so clean it can even be used for agricultural crops. ![aquamation](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/aquamation.jpg) ## The Aquamation Process A combination of warm water flow and alkalinity is used to accelerate the natural process of tissue hydrolysis. In essence, the process is similar to what occurs during the natural decomposition of a body in the soil, but it is an accelerated version of it. At the end of the process, all soft tissue has broken down and only the skeletal remains are left, as in cremation. The body has not liquefied, as some would have us believe, but has been decomposed in an accelerated fashion. This process of using water flow, temperature and alkalinity to break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates until only the bones are left is slowly becoming recognised as an alternative to the energy-heavy process of flame cremation. Once left with only the bones, the remains are treated exactly the same as with the cremation process. There is one feature that stands out: because the body is placed into its own container, the remains are kept separate from any others, with none of the mixing that can occur with flame cremation. This especially appeals to pet lovers, as they know their loved one’s small bones are kept separate. ![water cremations](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/water-cremations.jpg) ## Aquamation From A Medical Perspective One of the advantages of aquamation from a medical perspective is that it can help prevent the spread of infectious disease. The heat and alkaline solution used are understood to be effective at neutralising pathogens, which is one reason it was originally developed as a safe way of handling remains. This can help prevent transmission through contact with the remains, which can be a concern with traditional methods. Another advantage is that it avoids the high heat of flame cremation, which can release certain substances into the air. Aquamation uses a gentle, lower-emission process to break the body down. In addition, aquamation can be more efficient and cost-effective than traditional cremation. Because the process uses water and alkaline solutions, it typically takes less time and uses fewer resources, which can make it more affordable for families, as well as more sustainable from an environmental perspective. ![water cremation](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/water-cremation.jpg) ## Is Aquamation A Better Alternative to Traditional Funeral Arrangements ? There are a few reasons why aquamation may be considered a better funeral concept than cremation or traditional burial. One of the main advantages of aquamation is that it is considered more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation. Because aquamation uses water and alkaline solutions instead of fire, it produces fewer emissions and does not require the use of fossil fuels. This means that aquamation has a lower carbon footprint than traditional cremation, which can help to reduce the overall impact of funeral services on the environment. Another advantage of aquamation is that it can be less expensive than traditional cremation. Because aquamation is a more efficient process, it typically takes less time and uses fewer resources, which can make it more affordable for families. In addition, because the remains can be processed into a powder-like consistency, aquamation can also save families the cost of purchasing an urn or other type of container for the remains. Finally, aquamation is often seen as a more dignified and respectful way to handle the remains of a deceased person. Because the aquamation process is gentle and chemical-free, it is considered to be less traumatic for the family of the deceased. It can also provide families with more options for memorialization and final disposition of the remains, such as scattering or burial in a natural setting. ![ashes tattoo facts](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ashes-tattoo-facts.jpg)Aquamation Q & A’s #### What is aquamation? Aquamation is a process that does the same job as cremation, but it uses water and an alkaline solution instead of fire to gently return the body to nature. It is also known as alkaline hydrolysis, and it is widely seen as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional flame cremation. #### Why is aquamation called water cremation? It goes by several names, including water cremation, flameless cremation, green cremation, liquid cremation and bio-cremation. Each name reflects a different side of the process, whether that is its use of water, its environmental benefits, or how closely it mirrors traditional cremation. #### How does the aquamation process work? The body is placed in a clean stainless steel container filled with a mixture of water and potassium hydroxide. This is gently warmed, and the combination of water flow, temperature and alkalinity speeds up the natural breakdown of tissue. Once only the bones remain, they are processed into a fine, powder-like consistency, just as with flame cremation. #### How long does aquamation take? The process usually takes between three and four hours. It is a faster version of what would otherwise happen naturally in the ground, where the same breakdown would take many years. #### Does the body liquefy during aquamation? No, despite what some believe. The soft tissue dissolves and only the skeletal remains are left, exactly as with cremation. The body is not liquefied, it is gently broken down in an accelerated, natural way. #### Is aquamation better for the environment? Yes. Because it uses water and an alkaline solution rather than fire, aquamation produces fewer emissions and does not rely on fossil fuels, giving it a lower carbon footprint than flame cremation. Flame cremation needs to vent filtered gases, releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, whereas aquamation does not. The remaining water is so clean it can even be used for agricultural crops. #### Do you get more remains back with aquamation? Yes. Families receive on average around 20 percent more remains from aquamation than they would from flame cremation, which many find a real comfort. #### Are the remains kept separate from other remains? Yes, and this is one of the biggest draws. Because the body is placed in its own clean container throughout, the remains come back kept separate from any others. This especially reassures pet owners, who know their loved one’s small bones are kept separate and are not mixed up. #### Are there medical benefits to aquamation? The heat and alkaline solution used are understood to be effective at neutralising pathogens, which is one reason aquamation was originally developed as a safe way of handling remains. It also avoids the high heat of flame cremation, which can release certain substances into the air. #### How much does aquamation cost? Costs vary by provider and region, but aquamation is often comparable to or more affordable than traditional cremation, since it can use fewer resources. Because the remains are returned in a powder-like form, families can also save on the cost of an urn or container if they wish. #### Where did aquamation come from? Although it is relatively new to the funeral industry, aquamation was first used back in the 1990s as a sterile way of treating animals, as an alternative to cremation. In recent years it has been embraced more widely by the funeral industry as a whole. #### Can aquamation remains be used in a tattoo? Yes. Just like flame cremation ashes, the remains from aquamation can be infused into high quality tattoo ink at Cremation Ink ®, so you can carry your loved one with you in the ultimate memorial tattoo. ![banner ®](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/banner-%C2%AE.png) ## Reflecting on Aquamation. We will discuss further aspects on aquamation in other articles which can be found below, but whilst the flame cremation process has advanced to a point where it has become stagnant, the cleaner remains produced in a less enviromental impacting way, are moving ahead in taking a percentage of the cremation market. Its easy to see why, 100 percent your beloved remains, clean and efficient and whilst we hold an intrinsic visual value to a beloved being reduced to ashes by the power of the flame, maybe the natural return to nature, in a more passive way, is the new direction for todays globally aware clients. And as we said before, yes, at [Cremation Ink ®](https://cremationink.com) we can use aquamation remains of your beloved to make a high quality infused ink, combined with your loved ones remains for the ultimate memorial tattoo. To find out more about this process, click one of the links from the navigation menu to find out more, or read more about Aquamation in the other articles below. ![resomation cremation](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/resomation-cremation.jpg)[Resomation](https://cremationink.com/aquamation/resomation-2) ![alkaline hydrolysis](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/alkaline-hydrolysis.jpg)[Alakaline Hydrolysis](https://cremationink.com/aquamation/alkaline-hydrolysis-2) ![water cremations near me](http://cremationink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/water-cremations-near-me.jpg)[Water Cremation](https://cremationink.com/aquamation/water-cremations-2)