Aquamation
Also called: Alkaline hydrolysis, Water cremation
An alternative to flame cremation that uses heated water and lye to break the body down to bone fragments. Same result as cremation, less energy, no emissions.
Aquamation places the body in a pressurized chamber with water and a small amount of potassium or sodium hydroxide. Over three to four hours, soft tissue dissolves into a sterile liquid. Bone is left intact and is processed the same way as after flame cremation, returned to the family as ash.
Aquamation is legal in about half of US states as of 2026 and the list is growing. It typically costs slightly more than direct flame cremation ($1,500–$3,500), but uses about one-eighth the energy and produces no airborne emissions.
Faith traditions that allow flame cremation generally also allow aquamation. Those that prohibit cremation generally prohibit aquamation as well.
- Cremation— Reducing the body to bone fragments and ash using high heat (about 1,400–1,800 °F) over two to three hours. The resulting 'cremated remains' weigh 4–8 pounds for an adult.
- Direct cremation— Cremation with no viewing, no embalming, and no formal service at the funeral home. The body goes from the place of death to the crematory. The family gets the ashes back later.
This definition is general consumer information, not legal, medical, or financial advice. Industry practices and regulations change occasionally; verify before relying on anything here for a specific decision.
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