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Faqs

What is Aquamation? What is Aquamation?

Aquamation is a method of final disposition that is available for our pet loved ones. The scientific name for this water-based process is alkaline hydrolysis. Aquamation (also called water-based cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, bio-cremation, green cremation, and flame-less cremation) is an emerging form of body and pet cremation that is gentler to the environment. It is the same process that occurs as part of nature’s course when a body is laid to rest in the soil. Our bio friendly approach uses alkaline hydrolysis to essentially accelerate what takes place in natural decomposition. A combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity are used to accelerate the breakdown of organic materials.
Where is Aquamation approved? What is Aquamation?
Does the family receive an urn? What is Aquamation?

If they desire yes, and with 20-30% more ashes than one would receive from a flame cremation. At the end of the process, the inorganic remains of the animal (the calcium phosphate of the bones) resemble skeletal remains. In North America and other parts of the world, it’s customary to process the minerals into a powder for placement in an urn. This is the same processing step that is performed for the remains that result from flame cremation. Some cultures wish to keep the mineral remains as whole as possible for ceremonial burial, and because Aquamation is so gentle to the remains, it is the ideal process for this purpose.
Can the family still have a viewing? What is Aquamation?

Of course, and in fact many families choose to have a full–service visitation for family and friends prior to the Aquamation process. We are professionals who can perform a visitation service as the family chooses.
Is a casket required for this process? What is Aquamation?

No. Unlike flame cremation, a box or casket is not used in the process. These materials will not break down in the Aquamation process, nor are they needed.
How long does the process take? What is Aquamation?

The process takes 18-20 hours depending on the operating temperature of the equipment. The 18-20 hour process takes places at 200°F. A flame cremation, for comparison, takes 1-3 hours and takes place at 1600-1800°F using a ton of energy and emitting CO2.
What actually happens? What is Aquamation?

The Aquamation process is performed after any viewing or visitation services the family may wish to have. When it’s time for the process, the your pet is respectfully placed in a stainless steel vessel, either communal or separate. Alkali is added to the process based on weight, and the vessel fills with water. The solution of 95% water and 5% alkali is heated to 204 F, and gently circulated for the entire length of the process. At the end of the process, all material is broken down to the smallest building blocks; there is no DNA or RNA remaining. The sterile process water is released for recycling (animals are approximately 80% water to begin with), and the vessel performs a fresh water rinse for the equipment and remains. When the operator opens the door, only the inorganic bone minerals remain. These minerals are processed into powder and returned to the family in an urn if desired. This final processing step is the same process that is followed with flame cremation. Some families hold a celebration of life or gathering when the pets remains are returned to the family’s care.
Can the family still have a memorial service after the process? What is Aquamation?

Yes. Many families choose to have a memorial service or celebration of life to honor the life of their pet and gather with family.
Are the remains safe to handle? What is Aquamation?

Yes, the ash remains are 100% safe to handle, pathogen and disease free. Alkaline hydrolysis is a proven sterilization process.
What can be done with the ashes? What is Aquamation?

Absolutely anything that can be done with flame cremation ashes. Some families bury the urn in a pet cemetery, or permanently inter the urn in a columbarium. We offer a living tree to memorialize your pet. Place your pets aquamation remains in a Living Urn and plant it in the ground. A beautiful, enduring living memorial will then grow up from the urn and the cremated remains to keep your pet’s memory present in your life! There are numerous memorial products that can be made with the ashes – hand blown glass memorials, ceramic art pieces, man-made diamonds, memorial plantings for your garden, and many more. Many families choose to scatter some or all of the remains in a special place. Please see options here: Memorialize Your Pet.
Are there any special considerations that should be taken for spreading ashes? What is Aquamation?

Please check local regulations to make sure the scattering location is okay prior to scattering, and speak with us about the best way to scatter the ashes so your experience can be as meaningful as possible. We have great ideas and tips for making the scattering experience go as expected. Some special care must be taken when spreading the ashes in wind or water, as the ash is quite fine. We will provide you with guidance.
Are the ashes different than those from flame cremation? What is Aquamation?

The ashes from a flame cremation are primarily the mineral remains from the bone, and anything else that may have been placed in the process with the pet. The ashes from Aquamation are only the mineral remains from the bone, as there are no other materials in the ash. The color of ash from a flame process is typically gray in color, from the carbon discoloration from burning. The color of ash from Aquamation vary in color from white to a tan color. Some animals are a darker brown color we see often with birds. With both processes, there can be slight variations in color from animal to animal. The consistency of the ash is also different. The ash from flame cremation can be described as “chippy” bone fragments. The ash from Aquamation is a homogenous (consistent) powder. With Aquamation, there is 20-30% more ash remains returned to the family.
Why do you receive more ashes than with flame cremation? What is Aquamation?

The flame cremation process occurs at 1600-1800°F with the remains in contact with direct flame. Some of the inorganic mineral remains are lost to the air through the smoke stack. The Aquamation process occurs at 204°F without any fire at all, and the water circulation in the system is a similar flow to that of a creek or stream. It is very gentle to the final mineral remains, which allows more to be present at the end of the process.
Will I need a larger urn? What is Aquamation?

Yes, sometimes a larger urn is needed due to the increased volume of ashes, but this varies for each pet. Because the ashes are a fine powder versus the larger fragments from flame cremation, the ashes do fit more efficiently into the urns. If a family chooses an urn that will not fit the entire volume of ash remains of their pet, then our staff will call the family and provide options. Some families choose to keep the remains together in one urn while other families opt to have the excess remains placed in additional keepsake urns or jewelry, so each family member can have an special keepsake of their own choice to bring home. We have specialty handmade as well as custom Aquamation urns. Please visit our memorial page for quality urns, keepsakes and jewelry at the lowest price points available.
Are the ashes toxic to the environmentally friendly choice? What is Aquamation?

Absolutely not. As with anything, toxicity of a substance is a function of concentration. Miracle grow is a fertilizer, but if over-applied, it can kill a plant. A daily multivitamin is not toxic when taken as directed, but it would be toxic (and likely deadly) if the whole bottle were to be taken. When spreading or scattering ashes, we need to pay mind to where we are scattering them. A cremation garden that allows the scattering of ashes from hundreds of individuals can be a tough environment for growing plants. For families wanting to use the ashes from Aquamation or flame cremation as part of a potting soil, allowing their loved one to live on through the plant, the ashes are certainly not toxic if the soil is properly prepared. Significantly diluting the calcium phosphate ashes with potting soil and a pH balancer to match your region and specific plant type makes the ashes beneficial to the plant. Your Aquamation provider can provide you with guidance for creating your living memorial.
How much does Aquamation cost? What is Aquamation?

The cost of services and what is included in the price varies greatly by area and provider. Aquamation is comparable in price to flame cremation. It is significantly less costly than burial.
Why do families choose this option? What is Aquamation?
Families have expressed:
- They are grateful to have a bio-friendly choice.
- They prefer a process that does not use the harshness of fire or flame.
- They prefer receiving 20-30% more of their beloved pets’ ashes returned to the family.
- They believe this to be a more gentle option than flame-based cremation.
- They deeply value the decreased environmental impact of the process.
Why is this considered an environmentally friendly choice? What is Aquamation?

With Aquamation, there are no direct emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or mercury to the atmosphere. This process does not burn any fossil fuels. It is very energy efficient – greater than 90% energy savings compared to flame cremation, with 1/10th of the carbon footprint. (See video)
What is the impact of the water usage? What is Aquamation?

Very low. The Aquamation process uses less water than a single household uses in one day (source: watr.usgs.gov). This includes all of the water used for the process, along with the clean water rinsing of the final remains and vessel.
What happens to the water? What is Aquamation?

The water discharge is nutrient rich and actually good for the water treatment plants as it helps break down the waste. The Aquamation process produces a completely sterile solution of amino acids, sugars, nutrients, salts, and soap in a water solution. These are the byproducts of natural decomposition. Furthermore, the nutrient rich water makes for a great fertilizer for farmers growing all sorts of corps, plants and trees. We are experimenting with using our water to use as fertilizer to promote a natural, bio-friendly cycle of life. We are fully licensed to operate in New York State and meets all Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
How long has the process been around? What is Aquamation?

The modern technology has been in use by universities and the scientific industries for over 25 years! It has been used for the final disposition of human bodies donated to medical science since 1995. The first pet facility was opened in 2007, and the first funeral home to use the technology was in 2011.
What is the science behind the process? What is Aquamation?

A commonly misunderstood fact is that it is actually the water that performs the breakdown during the Aquamation process, not the alkali. A hydrolysis reaction is any type of reaction where bonds are cleaved by the insertion of water molecules. With alkaline hydrolysis, a base is added to water to create an alkaline environment. This changes the behavior of the water molecules, causing them to dissociate into hydrogen and hydroxide ions. The solution is only 5% alkali; 95% is water. Equally important to the process are the physical characteristics of the system (design), the continuous flow of the solution, and the heat. This all relates to collision theory and the rate and completeness of a reaction. What happens in the process is most pets are 80% water to being with, along with fat, protein, minerals, and carbohydrates. During the process, fats are reduced to salts, protein to amino acids and small peptides (which are groups of a few amino acids), and carbs are reduced to sugars. The process breaks all organic materials into their most basic building blocks, so small that no trace of protein or nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) remain. The organics are dissolved into the water, which consists of 96% water and 4% amino acids, sugars, and salts by weight.