Aquamation

Discover a gentle, eco-friendly alternative to traditional cremation that honors your pet with care and dignity.

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bio and water-based cremation

What is Pet Aquamation?

Aquamation is a form of pet cremation also known as alkaline hydrolysis, water-based cremation, and bio-cremation. Aquamation uses warm water, time, and alkali to mimic the natural decomposition of tissue that occurs after burial. In nature, this process can take years, but with the advancement in aquamation technology, this process now takes less than 20 hours.

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Aquamation

Aquamation is a form of pet cremation also known as alkaline hydrolysis, water-based cremation, and bio-cremation. Aquamation uses warm water, time, and alkali to mimic the natural decomposition of tissue that occurs after burial. In nature, this process can take years, but with the advancement in aquamation technology, this process now takes less than 20 hours.

At Heart With Wings, trained technicians who are skilled in performing aquamations will gently place your pet’s body into the aquamation chamber. They will add alkaline salts to the machine. Once the machine is started warm water will circulate through the machine for 18-24 hours. After the cycle is complete, the mineral components of your pet (bone) and nutrient-rich effluent will remain. If desired, the mineral ash of the bone will be returned to you. The nutrient-rich and environmentally safe effluent will be returned to the environment.

Aquamation is considerably more eco-friendly when you compare it to flame-based cremation. Aquamation reduces the carbon footprint by consuming less energy and producing less carbon dioxide than other forms of cremation.

To learn more about aquamation, please visit our FAQ page, or watch this video.

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Aquamation FAQs

At Heart With Wings trained technicians who are skilled in performing aquamations will gently place your pet’s body into the aquamation chamber. Families can trust that their pet is in caring hands during the entire end of life process.

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What are the benefits of aquamation?
  • Carbon footprint that is 1/10th that of fire-based cremation
    • Uses 90% less natural gas
    • Reduces more than 90% of carbon emissions
    • Conserves more than 66% more electricity
    • 100% mercury-free
    • Uses 95% less energy than fire cremation
    • 20% more remains returned back to the family
What is the difference between cremation and aquamation?
Cremation uses fire and is an oxidative process, while aquamation is using water and is a reductive process. Aquamation is essentially an accelerated process of what takes place during the natural process of decomposition.
Are the powdered cremains or ashes safe to handle?
Similar to cremation, the only solid remains are the mineral ash of the bones. The ash is a light sage or white color because it retains more minerals, is clean, and without carbon discolouration. The bone fragments are processed into a powdered consistency after the aquamation process is complete and then dried for several more days, then you receive remains just like you would with flame-based cremation. Because the process is so gentle families will receive an additional 20% of their loved ones’ remains in comparison to flame-based cremation.
Are the alkali’s used in aquamation safe for the environment?

Only 5 % of the solution is alkalis, the rest is simply water. At the end of the 20 hour process, all of the alkali mineral has been used up.