Aquamation (Water Cremation) in Colorado (2026): Legal Status, Providers & Costs

After a death, families in Colorado often find themselves making decisions while still trying to breathe. If you are considering aquamation—also called water cremation Colorado families ask about, or alkaline hydrolysis Colorado providers offer—you may be looking for an option that feels more environmentally aligned than flame cremation. You may also be wondering what happens afterward: Will you still receive ashes? How do you choose an urn? Is it okay to keep them at home?

This guide focuses on what most families actually need in 2026: the current legal picture, how to find trustworthy aquamation providers Colorado families can work with, what costs depend on, and how choices like cremation urns for ashes, pet urns for ashes, and cremation jewelry fit into practical funeral planning.

Why cremation choices are changing

Cremation is now the most common disposition choice for many U.S. families. According to the Cremation Association of North America, the U.S. cremation rate reached 61.8% in 2024 and is projected to keep rising. On its statistics page, the National Funeral Directors Association projects a 63.4% U.S. cremation rate in 2025 and 82.3% by 2045, and reports that 61.4% of consumers are interested in green funeral options. That is why terms like green cremation Colorado, eco friendly cremation Colorado, and flameless cremation Colorado show up in family searches: people want choices that match their values as well as their budgets.

What aquamation is and what you receive afterward

Aquamation uses warm water, an alkaline solution, and controlled heat to accelerate a natural process of returning a body to its basic elements. You may also see it described as bio cremation Colorado families research. The most important practical point is this: families receive processed remains that look and handle much like the remains returned after flame cremation.

Because the result is similar, your memorial options stay open. You can still choose cremation urns, plan scattering, or share small portions among family. For many people, that continuity is comforting: you can choose the disposition method that fits your values, and still take time deciding what to do with ashes.

Is aquamation legal in Colorado in 2026?

Families often start with one urgent question: is aquamation legal in Colorado? As of 2026, aquamation is generally treated as permitted in Colorado, and it is being offered by certain providers in the state. Colorado’s mortuary science law defines “cremation” broadly as the reduction of human remains to essential elements, processing, and placement in a container—see Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-54-102 as published by Justia.

Legality is only part of the decision. Families also deserve to know what oversight applies. Colorado’s funeral home and crematory registration rules are published in 4 CCR 742-1 via the Colorado Secretary of State. In the wake of recent scandals, Colorado reporting has emphasized why families should ask direct questions and request documentation—see this 2024 report from CPR News.

How to find aquamation providers in Colorado

When you search water cremation providers Colorado, you may notice that availability depends on region and facility capacity. Some funeral homes perform aquamation on site; others coordinate it through a partner facility and handle the legal authorizations, transfer, and communication. Either approach can be appropriate, as long as it’s clearly explained.

Start by asking two simple questions early: “Is the aquamation performed on site?” and “If not, where does it take place and who is responsible at each step?” As one example of a Colorado provider describing water cremation publicly, The Natural Funeral outlines alkaline hydrolysis among its services. If you are having trouble finding a local option, tools like Earth Funeral’s aquamation legality tracker can help you understand where aquamation is generally permitted, so you can ask informed questions about nearby alternatives.

Aquamation cost in Colorado and what drives the total

Families looking for aquamation cost Colorado (or alkaline hydrolysis cost Colorado) information quickly learn there isn’t a single price. The total depends on whether you are arranging a direct disposition or a memorial with additional elements such as staff time, facilities, transportation, or printed materials. In other words, “the disposition” is only one line item; the ceremony often changes the total more.

For budgeting, it helps to understand typical cremation line items and how they’re quoted. Funeral.com’s guide on how much does cremation cost walks through common price components and questions to ask so you can compare quotes fairly. Many markets price aquamation similarly to (and sometimes modestly higher than) flame cremation because fewer facilities offer it, so the most reliable path is an itemized quote that clearly lists what is included.

Choosing urns and keepsakes after aquamation

Once remains are returned, families often shift from logistics to meaning: keeping ashes at home, planning a future ceremony, or sharing portions with the people who loved them. On its statistics page, the National Funeral Directors Association notes that many consumers prefer keeping cremated remains in an urn at home, while others prefer scattering or dividing a portion among relatives.

If your plan is a central memorial, start with a full-size urn from cremation urns for ashes. If several people want a portion, keepsake urns are designed for sharing. And if you want a modest container for a second location, travel, or a later ceremony, Funeral.com’s small cremation urns can make the plan feel more workable.

If you want a wearable keepsake, cremation jewelry is designed to hold a very small portion, sealed securely—often as cremation necklaces. Many families find it works best when it complements an urn plan: one small portion worn close, with the remaining ashes kept safely.

Pet urns for ashes and the reality of shared grief

It is common to face multiple losses in one season—a relative, then the pet who stayed close through illness. If you are also choosing pet urns or pet urns for ashes, it helps to choose a style that fits your home and your relationship with that companion.

Funeral.com’s collection of pet cremation urns includes traditional and photo-frame options. If you want something sculptural, pet figurine cremation urns blend art and remembrance. And if several people want a portion, pet keepsake cremation urns can make sharing feel intentional instead of improvised.

Keeping ashes at home, water burial, and planning a future ceremony

For many families, keeping ashes at home is either a long-term decision or a gentle pause while they plan. Practically, the priorities are simple: a secure closure, a stable placement, and a shared understanding of what feels respectful—especially if children, pets, or visitors are in the home.

If your family wants scattering, especially in a body of water, you may hear the phrase water burial. Because rules and best practices vary by location, ask your funeral home about local guidance and permits before you travel or plan a public ceremony. Many families choose a two-step approach: keep the urn at home now, then plan a small gathering later when the timing feels right.

Questions to ask before choosing a funeral home for aquamation

When you are evaluating a funeral home aquamation Colorado families recommend—or any provider you found online—the goal is clarity. A reputable provider should answer these plainly and provide the details in writing.

• Is aquamation performed on site, or is transport to another facility required?
• What identification and tracking steps are used from transfer through return of remains?
• What exactly is included in the quote, and can we receive an itemized statement?
• How will the remains be returned, and in what type of container?

Good funeral planning doesn’t remove grief, but it can reduce avoidable stress and protect your energy for remembering.