What Is Aquamation And Why Should Know About It

What Is Aquamation And Why Should Know About It

If you heard the term Aquamation and wondered what it is, you
are not alone! This is a new form of cremation, also known as
water cremation, that is gaining popularity slowly. The process

is called alkaline hydrolysis where the body is submerged in a
vat of solution which liquefies the body leaving only the bones.
The process has been in place since 1995 and was used in
scientific research facilities as the final disposition method for
bodies donated to science. In 2007, it was approved as a pet
funeral method, and in 2011, for humans. Florida was one of the
first states to approve it for humans, so if you hear funeral
directors in Hialeah, FL talking about it, don’t be surprised.

Now the question arises why it is becoming popular. Just like
flame cremation, which rose in prominence as funeral costs in
the USA increased and also because we became aware of the
harmful impact of embalming and burials had on our
environment. Similarly, now the focus is on flame cremation
which is not totally pollution-free! Compared to flame
cremation, no fossil fuel is used for aquamation and so it has
1/10th of carbon footprint. The end result of aquamation is
sterile water and bones which are then crushed and returned to
the mourning family as ashes. The water that is produced goes
through wastewater treatment facilities just like any other
funeral home doing their embalming process. But it has natural
products compared to embalming which leaves behind toxic
waste. As for cost, it is way less costly than a traditional burial.

The next thing you want to know is how to hold an aquamation

funeral. First thing, unlike flame cremation, you can embalm the

body if you wish to. All of the embalming fluids will be broken
down during the process and won’t damage the environment.
You also don’t need a casket as it is in case of burial or flame

cremation. In fact, it won’t work if the body is placed in a casket
or if it is wearing synthetic material clothes. If you want to dress
your loved one, you have to use protein-based fabrics like silk,
wool, or leather. So, people are generally wrapped in special
biodegradable body bags while they are being cremated. As for
the religious portion of a funeral, the family can hold a viewing
before aquamation and a memorial service afterward. The bones
that remain are crushed to ashes and returned to the family who
can then complete the funeral in the way they like. Since the
alkaline hydrolysis process is a sterilizing process that kills all
kinds of pathogens, the remains of the body that undergoes
aquamation are perfectly safe to handle.

Today, many people have implants and medical devices like
pacemakers in their bodies. If they opt for cremation, the
pacemakers have to remove it as the battery in them will burst
during the cremation process. But with aquamation, you can
keep the pacemakers inside the body as the temperature at which
aquamation is done is much lower and batteries don't react at
that temperature. The metal implants which are very common as
many Americans have artificial hips and knees, come back in
non-salvageable condition when undergoing flame cremation.
But in aquamation, the metals come out clean and sterilized and
can be recycled into new materials. Why is this important?
Because titanium, the metal most used in this kind of implant is

one of the hardest to find and excavated after a steep
environmental cost.

So, the next time you need to arrange a funeral, talk to funeral
directors in Hialeah, FL, and talk about having an aquamation
instead of cremation or a traditional funeral.