What is Water Cremation?
Water cremation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, is a water-based process that accelerates natural decomposition from years to hours.
The process is gentler than flame cremation, and it has a much smaller environmental impact.
As with flame cremation, the family is able to keep their loved one's cremated remains.
How Water Cremation Works
Water Cremation uses a combination of water, alkali (sodium or potassium hydroxide), heat, and pressure to “unzip” tissue molecules in the body and dissolve them in water. This mimics the decomposition process that takes years to complete after a traditional burial.
The deceased is wrapped in an organic shroud or container, and they are carefully placed on a tray that extends from the Water Cremation machine.
The machine’s door — identical to those found on nuclear submarines — is closed and a technician programs the machine based on certain variables (the deceased’s weight, whether they underwent chemotherapy or embalming, etc.).
A button is pressed to initiate the process and the chamber fills with approximately 95% water and 5% alkali.
Over the course of three to four hours, organic tissue molecules are unzipped and dissolved, leaving only bones, certain kinds of dental fillings, and surgical implants.
The bones are dried and processed into a fine powder (“ash”) and returned to the family in an urn.
Pacemakers do not need to be surgically removed as they are prior to a flame cremation. Pacemakers, dental fillings, and surgical implants come out intact and are recycled.