Water Cremation Information

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Water Cremation, by Aquamation is available to families from Victoria, New South Wales, the ACT, Queensland, and South Australia.  

Water Cremation uses a process that is technically known as Alkaline Hydrolysis, to water cremate a loved one who has 'passed over'.  

A Comparison of Water Cremation and Traditional Cremation.

• The severe environmental impact of Greenhouse gas emissions from traditional cremations is a very serious concern for environmental activist groups worldwide. 

Cremations require very high temperatures and consume tremendous amounts of electricity. During each cremation, the deceased is placed in a chamber that is heated to around 900°C for a duration of several hours. 

Each cremation produces approximately 400 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions.   

Water Cremation (Alkaline Hydrolysis) operates at much lower temperatures than cremation, and uses a fraction of the electricity, with the loved one being carefully placed in a potassium hydroxide and water solution that is heated to 93°C, for a period of 4 hours. 

Each Water Cremation produces less than only 20 kilograms of greenhouse gases, a tiny amount, compared to cremation.

Public Health Concerns Relating to Mercury Pollution from Traditional Cremation.

• Worldwide there are serious concerns being raised regarding the toxic effects of mercury pollution from traditional cremation on human communities. 

Cremation heats the mercury in the deceased's tooth fillings to the point that it becomes airborne and this is recognised as a toxic emission. 

Research has concluded that airborne mercury emissions from crematoriums significantly increase the rates of Autism, Stillbirth and Cancer in nearby human populations.

Governments in the U.S. and the European Union are mobilising over these concerns. Restrictions have been put in place and efforts made to introduce technologies to reduce the mercury pollution emitted from crematoria. 

With Water Cremation, mercury pollution is not an issue because the fillings from teeth remain intact. 

When the Water Cremation is completed, we will arrange to have the mercury safely recycled.

Following a Water Cremation, the loved ones remains are returned to you in an urn in the form of 'Ashes', as with cremation.

References

Sustainability Victoria, a Victorian Government website. 

SBS - How to Have an Eco-Friendly Funeral.

Aquamation International - An Introduction to Water Cremation.