Water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation) isn’t exactly new – it was first patented in 1888. That’s right, over 135 years ago the water cremation process was conceived. Then medical facilities started using water cremation in 1993 for bodies that were donated for research. It was there that the process proved to be safe and even had advantages over standard cremation services.
It wasn’t until 2011 that water cremation went more mainstream and started being approved as a disposition service in some states. Since then, 27 states have made water cremation a legal form of disposition, and more states are legalizing natural organic reduction as well. One of the motivations behind legalizing water cremation is its eco-friendliness.
Every day we are asked about both processes, and some questions are quite common. One that we hear a lot is, how much water is needed to perform a water cremation?
Many people are interested in water cremation specifically because it’s more eco-friendly compared to other options. But they want to know just how much more eco-friendly it is, and water is a precious resource. In Texas, water can seem more scarce than electricity, and that’s the case in other parts of the country.
So, let’s break down how much water is involved with aquamation as well as a few other technical questions that are related to gauging how environmentally friendly water cremation is compared to the other alternatives.
The Water Cremation Vessel Limits the Amount of Water Used
The amount of water that’s used for aquamation is fluid (pun intended). It’s limited by the size of the water cremation vessel that’s designed for cremating a single body. The vessel, also known as the chamber, can hold quite a bit of water. Somewhere between 80 to 100 gallons of water is typically used for alkaline hydrolysis.
The amount of water needed falls into a range because people are different sizes. Sex and body composition also make a difference not just in the amount of water that’s used by also the make up of the alkaline solution.
So, count on 80 gallons of water (or 1,300 liters) to be used in the water cremation process, possibly up to 25% more..
What Goes Into the Solution For Water Cremation?
Water isn’t the only thing inside the cremation vessel. The solution itself is something that people ask about. They want to know exactly what is in it and how eco-friendly it is.
The solution that’s used in water cremation is completely safe. In fact, it’s typically around 95% water. The other 5% of the solution consists of an alkaline. Despite how it may seem in the water cremation process, the alkaline isn’t acidic. It’s actually the exact opposite. It’s a base with a pH level over 7, with 7 being considered the neutral state.
Alkalis have less hydrogen than pure water. They also easily dissolve in water. The two alkalis that are commonly used in water cremation are sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
The alkaline is responsible for the hydrolysis part, a technical term for breaking chemical bonds in the body. The heat that’s applied is to simply speed up the breakdown so that the water cremation can be completed in 3-16 hours. The hotter the solution is heated, the faster the cremation will go.
The solution is completely safe, unlike most embalming fluids. It’s so safe it can be poured down the drain. All it contains is salts, peptides, sugars and amino acids that are all deemed environmentally safe. However, that doesn’t mean the solution is being poured down the drain. Local and state regulations will dictate how a crematorium disposes of the fluid.
How Much Electricity is Used For Water Cremation?
Water cremation doesn’t involve incineration at all, which is much better for the environment, but electricity is required to heat up the chamber to an adequate temperature. How much electricity is needed varies based on the equipment, temperature of the chamber and how long the process takes. Most newer equipment tends to be more energy efficient, but if it utilizes an agitator to speed up the process it will require more energy.
Although it can vary from one cremation to the next, generally aquamation requires 90 kWh of electricity. It works out to be just 10% of the energy that’s used for a traditional cremation. To put it in perspective, the average American family uses 30 kWh of electricity a day.
When electricity is involved the environmental impact depends not only on the amount of electricity used but also how the electricity is sourced.
Today, there are clean energy sources for generating electricity. Solar power is becoming more common, but electricity can also be generated by wind or water (hydropower). Texas is well-known for gas, but it actually generates more wind energy than any other state in the country. The latest figures from the Texas Comptroller’s office shows that 28.6% of the electricity generated in the Lone Star State comes from the wind.
So, here in Texas green energy accounts for a significant portion of the power, making water cremation that much more eco-friendly. There are even green electric plans that are 100% powered by renewables. It’s a way for funeral homes like Cremation.Green to lower the carbon footprint of all their services.
Have any other questions of your own about the water cremation process or the resources that are required for the service? The Cremation.Green team is ready to answer any questions you have about the process and eco-friendliness of water cremation. We can be reached by phone, text or online any time of day.