Aquamation Explained: The Eco-Friendly Alternative to Cremation
Are you considering making eco-friendly afterlife plans? Aquamation could be the ideal solution. Learn more about the process to determine if it’s right for you.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- What is Aquamation: How Does It Work?
- Aquamation vs. Cremation
- Where is Aquamation Legal?
- How Much Does Aquamation Cost?
- Aquamation vs. Cremation Table
- About Opal Cremation
- FAQs
Key Takeaways
- Aquamation is a water-based method of final disposition, gaining popularity for its eco-friendliness
- Though it is more eco-friendly than cremation, it is also more expensive and offers other drawbacks in terms of time and accessibility
- This article will help you weigh your options, so you can determine which is best suited to your needs
Introduction
In modern times, many people choose cremation over burial because it is more eco-friendly, uses less land and resources, requires no energy-intensive maintenance, and avoids the chemicals used in embalming. This is especially true in Southern California, where environmental awareness is deeply embedded in the culture. But could there be an even more sustainable solution?
Meet aquamation. Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, this water-based method of final disposition has been gaining popularity among families in Los Angeles and Orange County in recent years. Compared with cremation, it uses less energy and produces no emissions. But is it right for your family?
Read on to find out.
What is the History of Aquamation?
Aquamation may seem like a new technology, but it was introduced way back in 1888 when Amos Herbert Hanson, a British immigrant farmer living in the United States, developed the process to break down animal carcasses into fertilizer. However, it wasn’t until the 1990s that Dr. Gordon Kay and Dr. Peter Weber of the Albany Medical Center began to experiment with it and recognized its potential as a tissue digester, effective for disposing of lab animals and human remains.
Over the next decade, it was adopted by medical facilities such as the Mayo Clinic. By 2007, Scottish biochemist Sany Sullivan launched Resomation, Ltd., commercializing machines for human resomation.
It gained traction in the 2010s as an eco-friendly method of human disposition. It was legalized in South Africa and later in the United States, Canada, and other regions worldwide.
What is Aquamation? How Does it Work?
The aquamation process uses a combination of flowing water, temperature, and potassium hydroxide (also known as lye), an alkaline substance. This combination accelerates the decomposition of organic matter in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way. Here’s a breakdown of the process.
- The remains are placed into a stainless-steel container, AKA the aquamation machine.
- The container is filled with water and potassium hydroxide and then heated to about 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius).
- The vessel is agitated and sometimes pressurized to accelerate the chemical reactions that break down the remains into their basic components. This process mimics the decomposition that would occur with a ground burial, but completes within hours rather than decades.
- When the aquamation process is complete, the remains have been reduced to a sterile liquid and bone fragments.
- The liquid consists of the basic building blocks of organic material: amino acids, peptides, salts, and sugars. It is released into a water treatment system or can be used in gardens and other green spaces.
- The bone fragments are processed into a fine powder and placed into an urn. The urn can then be housed in a sacred space, or its contents can be scattered.
Because of its similarity to cremation and use of water, aquamation also goes by the names “aquamation cremation”, “flameless cremation”, and “aquamation water cremation”.
“It’s a general move towards more environmentally sustainable practices and thinking about your environmental impact after you’ve left the earth.”
Juliette O’Keefe, senior scientist at the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, from the article Liquified, Composted: How Green Are These Alternative Death Practices?
Aquamation vs Cremation
While the resulting remains from these processes are similar, there are several differences between aquamation and cremation. Southern California families weighing their options should consider the following:
- Emissions: Aquamation has a slight edge in environmental benefits over cremation. Cremation releases mercury from dental fillings and several greenhouse gases. Aquamation, on the other hand, results in no direct emissions of these substances, though heavy metals such as mercury will remain after the process.
- Energy Use: Aquamation uses less energy than cremation does – 1/7th the energy, to be specific. However, it is important to note that aquamation may take 8 to 20 hours to complete, whereas cremation takes only a few hours.
- Pacemaker Removal: If the loved one has a pacemaker installed, it need not be removed for the aquamation process. With flame cremation, such devices must be removed before the cremation can proceed.
- Amount of Remains: Aquamation results in 20% to 30% more remains than cremation. Consequently, larger, more costly urns are typically needed.
- Remains Texture: The ash that results from aquamation is a fine powder, unlike cremation ashes, which are coarse and sandy. It may be easier to scatter, but the same ash scattering laws apply to both processes. In California, those laws include specific requirements for scattering on land and at sea that apply regardless of which process you choose.
Because aquamation is a relatively new option, many people distrust it. They incorrectly perceive the process as the liquefaction of human remains. As with any major life decision, you need to research your options to make an informed choice.
Is Embalming Necessary for Aquamation?
No, embalming is not necessary in aquamation. That said, if the deceased’s next of kin choose to embalm the remains, that’s also acceptable. The embalming fluids will be completely broken down into harmless basic components.
Where is Aquamation Legal?
While cremation is legal in all fifty states, aquamation isn’t as widely embraced. It is not explicitly illegal in any state, but some states have not yet passed legislation on the matter. Still others have legalized it, but it is not available in the area due to a limited number of providers. California has legalized aquamation, though providers remain limited throughout Los Angeles and Orange County compared to traditional direct cremation options.
Click through to learn about aquamation legislation by state.
How Much Does Aquamation Cost?
Generally speaking, the cost of aquamation is higher than that of standard cremation, though far lower than that of a traditional burial. Aquamation prices usually range from $2,000 to $3,000, though they may be higher depending on location. Direct cremation costs in Los Angeles and Orange County are typically around $1000. In-ground burial costs start at $9000.
All costs should be summarized, by law, in the General Price list of whichever final disposition method you choose.
There is a history of a lack of transparency in the funeral industry. Providers often take advantage of families’ minimal experience with the process and expenses, their emotional state, and their need to find services quickly, and tack on extra fees when they are most vulnerable. Preplanning can help avoid this predicament, giving people plenty of time to research and compare their options.
Opal Cremation provides direct cremation services in Los Angeles and Orange County with no hidden fees. Read more about the topic in our article The Real Cost of Direct Cremation in Orange County.
Aquamation vs Cremation Table
| Factor | Aquamation | Cremation |
| Eco-friendliness | Produces no emissions and uses less energy | Produces some emissions and uses more energy but still more eco-friendly than burial |
| Cost | More expensive, about $2000 to $3500 | Less expensive, about $1000 to $2000 |
| Pacemaker Removal | Not necessary | Necessary |
| Remains | More remains, needing a bigger, more expensive urn, ashes are fine and easier to scatter | Less remains, a smaller urn is okay, ashes are coarse and harder to scatter |
| Legality & Accessibility | Not legal in every state, as some have not established relevant legislation,and some states have no providers | Legal throughout the country and easy to access |
| Embalming | Not necessary | Not necessary |
| Ash Scattering | Relevant laws apply | Relevant laws apply |
| Time | 4-16 hours, including the active and drying processes | 1-3 hours total |
When weighing the pros and cons of aquamation, also consider its benefits to wastewater systems. The amino acids in the liquid effluent feed beneficial bacteria in municipal treatment plants, helping clean the pipes, making waste managers enthusiastic adopters. It was widely welcomed in Portland due to its environmental benefits.
About Opal Cremation
Opal Cremation realizes that the passing of a loved one is an emotional and overwhelming experience. Our goal is to help Los Angeles and Orange County families navigate these most difficult of times. We offer several all-inclusive packages for direct cremation services throughout Southern California, each customizable to each family’s needs.
Arrangements for cremation can be done entirely over the phone, and our dedicated care team will guide you through every step of the process. We stand ready to help you 24 hours a day.
The stress and burden of cremation arrangements can take a heavy emotional toll on Southern California families. Let Opal Cremation lighten the load.
For more information, visit our support center for additional resources and frequently asked questions about cremation.
FAQs
Does aquamation use acid to dissolve the body?
No, it uses alkali, the chemical opposite of acid, at pH 14 on the scale. The water itself drives the hydrolysis reaction.
What remains after aquamation?
After aquamation, only bone minerals (calcium phosphate) remain. It is dried and processed into a white powder that is similar to, but often softer and lighter than, cremated remains. It does not contain DNA, proteins, or organic remains.
Is the liquid effluent harmful?
No, the liquid effluent, the sterile solution that’s left after the bone decomposes, is a sterile, safe, and organically beneficial solution containing 96% water and 4% nutrients.
Can the remains be scattered, buried, or kept?
Yes, just like any other type of ashes, aquamation remains can be scattered, buried, or kept. You can even make them into parting stones or cremation jewelry.
How does aquamation compare to flame cremation?
Aquamation is gentler (no fire) and uses far less energy, prevents mercury release from fillings (bound in teeth and recycled), and produces no air pollution. It is considered 90% greener.
