UNDERSTANDING WATER CREMATION
THE PROCESS
—A STEP BREAKDOWN—
How It Works
It's no secret that water cremation is still new to many people. So knowing how the process works can ease uncertainty, answer practical questions, and help you feel more connected to—and confident in—the care your person will receive.
We start with preparing your loved one's body.
When the time for someone's water cremation comes, we first remove all items (clothing, bandages, jewelry, etc.) and shroud them with a bioplastic decency shroud. This shroud has a cornstarch base and dissolves in the warm water with no trace residue.
Then, the body is loaded into the vessel, which is called a Resomator.
During this time, we place photos of your loved one around the vessel, play music you may have suggested to us, and light a candle in their honor.
Next, the cremation begins.
Water cremation takes place inside the Remosator: a sealed stainless-steel chamber where the body rests in a warm, pressurized bath of water and an alkaline solution.
Over the course of 3-6 hours, this carefully controlled environment accelerates the body’s natural molecular breakdown, leaving only the bones and anything non-organic like implants, medical devices, etc.
Then, we prepare the cremated remains.
At the end of the process, anything non-organic is recycle, and the bones are carefully gathered and dried.
The drying process will take about 3 and half hours. Then the bones are processed into a smooth, white powder—which is the cremated remains ("ash") families receive back.
Meanwhile, the sterile liquid from the water cremation (called effluent) is returned to our water system. This liquid contains no DNA or tissue and, in fact, is rich in natural nutrients such as amino acids, peptides, salts, and sugars.
Finally, you are reunited.
Families choose between receiving an urn, solidified stones, or planning a sea scattering—all to honor the one they’ve said goodbye to.
—SEE IT FOR YOURSELF—
Tour Our Care Facility
Interested in learning more?
We offer free online and in-person tours of our West Palm Beach water cremation care facility. You’ll see the vessel and space where water cremation occurs, and you'll have the opportunity to learn about the community work we do.
—QUESTIONS ON THE PROCESS—
FAQs
How do I know you're cremating my loved one and not someone else?
This is one of the most important questions a family can ask.
From the moment your person enters our care, we use a strict chain-of-custody and identification system. Their name and case details are documented, checked, and matched at every step...up until the moment you are reunited.
Furthermore, we do not process more than one body per vessel at a time, so there is never any confusion as to who we are caring for.
How many people are cremated at one time?
Only one person is placed in the water cremation vessel at a time. Your person is never cremated with another person; water cremation is performed individually.
Can cremated remains get mixed up with someone else's?
Our process is strictly designed to prevent that.
Each water cremation is performed individually. After the process is complete, the remaining bone material is carefully removed, dried, processed, and placed into the selected urn or temporary container for that family.
The equipment is thoroughly cleaned, checked and prepared between cases, and each person’s identity is tracked throughout the process.
May I witness the water cremation?
Yes!
Witnessing the water cremation typically welcomes your family into the facility for an Intimate Farewell or an In Their Honor funeral event.
Your family will have the opportunity to see their loved one, help push their loved one into the vessel, and close the vessel door.
What happens when my loved one first enters your care?
When your person enters our care, we document their arrival, confirm identifying information, and begin our internal tracking process.
Your loved one will be bathed and cleaned, and will be placed in our temperature-controlled resting space. Then we will work closely with you to plan for and schedule the water cremation.
How long does the entire process take, from the time you receive my loved one until the cremation is complete?
The entire process typically takes a minimum of 14 days. This is because before the water cremation can be scheduled, we must get the doctor and medical examiner to sign the death certificate and approve the cremation.
Once that's done, the water cremation can typically be scheduled quite quickly and a reunion appointment can be scheduled within a day or two of that.
