Water Cremation Explained: What Happens to the Water in Alkaline Hydrolysis?

When a family chooses cremation, the hardest part is rarely the paperwork. It’s the quiet questions that show up afterward—usually late at night, usually in the same browser tab where you were searching for help. If you’ve found yourself typing water cremation explained or what happens to the water in aquamation, you’re not alone.

Alkaline hydrolysis—often called aquamation, water cremation, or a flameless cremation process—sounds unfamiliar at first. The idea that a body can be reduced without a visible flame can feel hard to picture, and that’s where anxiety tends to land: on the “water part.” Families want to know what the liquid is, whether it’s safe, and what facilities actually do with it. They also want to understand how this choice affects the practical decisions that come next: funeral planning, what to do with ashes, and how to choose meaningful memorial options like cremation urns, pet urns, or cremation jewelry.

This guide walks you through the alkaline hydrolysis process in plain language, with special focus on the byproduct people worry about most: the liquid. Along the way, we’ll also connect the dots to the parts families must decide next—how to memorialize, how to store cremated remains at home, how water ceremonies work, and how costs typically fit together.

Why the question “what happens to the water?” matters so much

The water question isn’t really about plumbing. It’s about dignity, safety, and trust. When families hear there is a “liquid byproduct,” their mind naturally goes to worst-case images. A good provider will never dismiss those worries. Instead, they’ll explain what the liquid is and how it is handled under local rules, because this is one of the clearest ways to understand what alkaline hydrolysis actually does.

In the U.S., cremation is already the majority choice, and it keeps rising. According to the National Funeral Directors Association, the U.S. cremation rate was projected at 63.4% for 2025, with a long-term projection reaching 82.3% by 2045. As more families choose cremation (and newer options within it), questions about aftercare and environmental impact become part of everyday planning—not niche concerns. That’s why it’s worth answering the water question clearly, without euphemisms.

How alkaline hydrolysis works, step by step

The phrase alkaline hydrolysis process can sound clinical, but the concept is simple: it’s a controlled, contained way to accelerate the same kind of breakdown that happens naturally over time—without an open flame.

According to the Cremation Association of North America (CANA), alkaline hydrolysis uses water, alkaline chemicals, heat, and sometimes pressure or agitation to speed decomposition, leaving bone fragments and a neutral liquid called effluent. The chamber is sealed and designed for this specific purpose; it isn’t “open to the environment” in the way people sometimes imagine when they first hear the term.

What the family receives afterward

Just as with flame cremation, families receive the processed bone remains—what people commonly call “ashes.” CANA notes that the remaining bone fragments are dried and then processed into a fine, ash-like powder. One practical detail families sometimes miss is that some providers note a slightly greater volume of cremated remains than flame cremation, which can affect the size of urn you choose. That’s one reason it helps to talk about memorial planning early, even if the actual urn decision comes later.

If your plan includes keeping the remains at home, this is where cremation urns for ashes come into the picture. Many families begin by browsing a broad category—like cremation urns for ashes—to see what feels appropriate before narrowing to a size, material, or style.

What the liquid byproduct actually is

This is the heart of the question: what happens to the water in aquamation, and what does it contain?

CANA describes the liquid byproduct as a sterile effluent that contains salts, sugars, amino acids, and peptides, and states that there is no tissue and no DNA left after the process completes. In other words, the body’s soft tissues have been broken down into basic organic compounds. That may sound abstract, but it’s a key reassurance: it is not “a body in water.” It is the water-based equivalent of what flame cremation releases into the air as harmless compounds. CANA also notes that in alkaline hydrolysis, these compounds are released with the water rather than as combustion gases.

Where the effluent goes and why local wastewater rules matter

If you’re researching alkaline hydrolysis effluent or aquamation wastewater, you’re probably trying to understand whether the liquid is dumped somewhere or “returned to nature.” The most accurate answer is more practical than poetic: it is handled through regulated wastewater systems, under the same kind of oversight that applies to other industrial or medical discharges.

CANA explains that the sterile liquid is released via a drain to the local wastewater treatment authority in accordance with federal, state or provincial, and local laws—and that facilities manage the water’s chemistry before discharge. In their description, the pH is brought up to at least 11 prior to discharge. That detail matters because wastewater systems have rules designed to protect pipes, workers, and treatment processes from corrosive discharges.

At the federal level, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes how publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) and pretreatment programs exist to control what enters municipal wastewater systems from indirect dischargers. You can see this framework in the EPA’s overview of the National Pretreatment Program and in its fact sheet on pH requirements for industrial users.

What does that mean in real life for a family choosing aquamation?

It means facilities don’t just “pour it out.” They operate under local discharge rules that typically address pH, temperature, and flow timing. In many places, the provider works with the local wastewater authority to ensure compliance, and the discharge goes to the municipal treatment plant—where wastewater is treated before release back to waterways. This is also why availability varies: even when alkaline hydrolysis is legal in a state, a facility may still need local approvals and infrastructure to operate smoothly.

If you’re weighing options and you want reassurance, it’s reasonable to ask a provider two direct questions: what wastewater authority they discharge to, and what pre-discharge steps they take (cooling, neutralization, monitoring). A trustworthy answer won’t be defensive—it will be boring, procedural, and documented. That’s a good sign.

Aquamation vs. cremation and the “green” conversation

Many families come to water cremation because they’re thinking about the green cremation environmental impact side of the decision. Others come for a different reason: the emotional feel of it. “Gentle” is one of the most common words people use when describing why they’re drawn to water-based disposition, especially if fire feels unsettling.

CANA describes alkaline hydrolysis as an alternative to flame-based cremation, using water and alkaline chemicals with heat, pressure, and/or agitation—without an open flame. That’s the core of the flameless cremation process idea. And as Funeral.com’s own guide on green cremation and alkaline hydrolysis notes, the honest way to talk about environmental impact is with nuance: the process is widely presented as lower-impact because it avoids combustion and uses lower temperatures, but the “how much” depends on equipment, energy sources, and local wastewater treatment.

If you’re looking for broader cremation trend context, CANA’s Industry Statistical Information page explains how they compile and publish annual cremation statistics. The big-picture takeaway is that cremation has become normal for many families, and as it becomes normal, personalization becomes normal too. That’s where memorial choices—urns, keepsakes, jewelry, scattering, burial—stop being an afterthought and become part of the plan.

What to do after aquamation: memorial choices that fit real life

After any cremation method—traditional or water-based—families arrive at the same tender moment: deciding what happens next. Even when the disposition choice felt clear, the aftercare choices can feel surprisingly heavy. This is where it helps to separate “what we need right now” from “what we may want later.”

Many families start with keeping ashes at home, even if they eventually plan burial, scattering, or a columbarium niche. If that’s you, Funeral.com’s guide on keeping ashes at home walks through safety, placement, and the emotional side of living with cremated remains under your roof.

From there, memorial items tend to fall into a few gentle categories—each one meeting a different family need.

Choosing a primary urn

A primary urn is the “main” container that holds all (or most) of the cremated remains. Some families want something classic and discreet; others want a piece that feels like art. If you’re early in the process, it can help to browse broadly first, then refine by size and placement plan. Funeral.com’s collection of cremation urns for ashes is designed for exactly that kind of starting point.

If you already know you want a compact option—because you’re dividing ashes, planning a small memorial shelf, or choosing a temporary container before a later ceremony—look specifically at small cremation urns. And if your plan involves sharing a small portion among siblings or children, keepsake urns are often the simplest way to reduce conflict and let each person grieve in their own way.

If you want a plain-language walkthrough, Funeral.com’s article on how to choose a cremation urn can help you match material and size to your real plan—display, burial, travel, or scattering.

Pet urns and the different kind of grief

If your water cremation search is tied to pet aftercare, the emotional landscape is different but just as real. The house changes after a pet dies. Routines break. Silence shows up in specific places. Choosing pet urns for ashes is often less about “what looks formal” and more about “what feels like them.”

Funeral.com’s pet cremation urns collection includes traditional styles as well as more personal designs. Families who want a memorial that captures personality often gravitate toward pet figurine cremation urns, while families who want to share a small portion—especially across households—often choose pet keepsake cremation urns.

If you’d like guidance before you choose, Funeral.com’s pet urn guide is written for the way pet grief actually feels: personal, specific, and sometimes harder to explain to others.

Cremation jewelry and “a little close, not all at once”

There’s a reason so many people search for cremation jewelry after a death: it’s a way of carrying love forward in daily life, without needing to decide everything at once. A small amount can be placed in jewelry, while the rest stays in an urn for home, burial, or scattering.

If you’re exploring cremation necklaces, start with the idea that good jewelry is designed to be practical as well as meaningful—secure closures, durable metals, and clear filling instructions. Funeral.com’s collection of cremation jewelry includes necklaces and other keepsakes, and the guide Cremation Jewelry 101 explains how pieces are filled, sealed, and worn safely so you can feel confident, not nervous.

Water burial, scattering, and the ceremony question

Sometimes the most healing choice is movement—returning remains to a place that meant something: a shoreline, a lake, the ocean. This is where the keyword water burial comes up, and it’s important to clarify terms. Some families mean scattering cremated remains over water. Others mean placing cremated remains in a biodegradable urn designed to sink and dissolve.

In U.S. ocean waters, the EPA’s burial-at-sea guidance notes that remains should not be placed within three nautical miles from shore under the general permit conditions. You can review those details on the U.S. EPA page, and Funeral.com’s practical comparison—water burial vs. scattering at sea—walks through what each option looks like on an actual day, including wind concerns and why biodegradable water urns can reduce stress in the moment.

If you’re still early in decision-making, Funeral.com’s guide on where to put ashes after cremation can help you see options side by side without forcing a rushed choice.

Costs and planning: making room for both emotions and numbers

Even families who don’t want to talk about money end up needing to. If you’re searching how much does cremation cost, you’re usually trying to protect yourself from surprise fees, not looking for a bargain. Costs vary widely by location and by the type of service, but the structure is often similar: disposition fees, transportation, paperwork, and then optional choices like a viewing, service, urn, or memorial items.

For a current, family-friendly breakdown, Funeral.com’s 2025 cremation cost guide explains the difference between direct cremation and cremation with services, and how memorial decisions fit into the total without pressure. If you prefer a shorter overview, average cremation cost and what changes the price covers the same topic in a more compact way.

In practice, the most sustainable approach—emotionally and financially—is to build a plan that allows for a “now” choice and a “later” choice. You might choose a simple temporary container for the first few weeks, then select a permanent urn after the fog lifts. Or you might choose keepsake urns or cremation necklaces so multiple people can share remembrance, reducing pressure on one person to “own” the grief. This is still funeral planning, even if it happens in slow motion.

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