Aquamation, also known as Alkaline Hydrolysis, is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame-based cremation and burial. The process uses a solution of 95% water and 5% alkali to break down the bonds that hold one’s body together, leaving behind only the inorganic mineral in bone. This is the same process that would occur during green burial, but sped up with the use of warm water, potassium hydroxide, and sodium. The mineral remains are then dried and processed into a powder and returned to the family.
Aquamation is a gentle process using water instead of fire to return the body to Mother Nature. In addition to the comforting benefit of water over fire, Aquamation also results in 20% more mineral remains being returned to the family than flame-based cremation, while using 90% less energy, emitting no harmful greenhouse gases or mercury into the atmosphere, and burning no fossil fuels. Finally, the Aquamation process results in mineral remains that are more pristine than flame-based cremation.
Our Aquamation Facility is located on our property, so that your loved one does not have to be transported to any other facilities.
You have many options of what to do with your loved one’s mineral remains, including placing them in an urn, inurnment in a columbarium or grave, cremation jewelry, memorial glass, and more. Most anything you can do with fire-based cremated remains, you can do with mineral remains.
The law does not require that families supply an urn. However, the family may choose to bury the loved one’s mineral remains in an urn, place the urn in a columbarium, store the remains in an urn, or use an urn during a memorial service. If choosing to bury the urn in a cemetery, you may be required to select an urn vault as well which will protect the urn and the surrounding earth.
Yes, the remains are 100% safe to handle. Alkaline Hydrolysis is a proven sterilization process that results in pathogen and disease free remains.
A great resource for more information about Aquamation would be the website for the company who built our Aquamation Chamber, Bio-Response Solutions. Their website is www.aquamationinfo.com.
Yes. With Aquamation, there are even more options for services than with a burial. There can be a funeral service and a viewing prior to aquamation or a memorial service with or without the mineral remains present. There can also be a service to scatter or bury the remains. It is completely up to the wishes of the family.