An alternative to cremation and burial will be available to choose later in 2023 as Aquamation/water cremation/Resomation will be available in the UK. It has been a body disposal choice in America, Canada, and South Africa. It was the method chosen by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Known by a few names, what is it and will it become more popular than cremation?
Flame and Water Cremation
It has been over 120 years since people could choose an alternative to burials. Cremation has been around for thousands of years, and it is the only funeral choice of some religions and people as burials are for others.
Cremation involves flames and intense heat to reduce a body to ash with some larger pieces of bone which need to be ground down in a machine called a cremulator. This gives us cremains (cremated remains), or ashes as we commonly refer to them. If there aren’t any flames involved, why is Aquamation being incorrectly called ‘water cremation’?
What is Aquamation
Cremation uses flames, Aquamation uses water; it is the process of dissolving a body in water. Some newspapers, online sites and social posts are negatively calling it ‘boil in the bag’ and ‘liquified when you die’. Positive reports and articles refer to Aquamation as ‘bio cremation’ and ‘alkaline hydrolysis’.
Online searches state Aquamation was invented and patented in 1888 by Amos Herbert Hanson in a bid to turn cattle carcasses into fertiliser. In the UK a company called Resomation based in Pudsey Leeds make the machines used for Aquamation which they call resomators. Founder and CEO Sandy Sullivan calls Aquamation Resomation.
From their website:
Resomation, sometimes known as Alkaline Hydrolysis or Water Cremation, speeds up the natural process associated with burial. The deceased is enclosed in a biodegradable pouch and placed in a container filled with pressurised water and a small amount of potassium hydroxide.
Each cycle takes approximately four hours. At the end of the cycle, the soft bones which are left are dried, then reduced to a white powder, similar to ash. The remains are then returned to relatives in a sustainable urn.
Aquamation and the Environment
Like burial and cremation, Aquamation does have some impact on the planet, but not as much as cremation does.
The British company Resomation, which supplies the equipment, claims the process produces a third less greenhouse gas than cremation and uses a seventh of the energy.
According to the founder of the company, Sandy Sullivan, the liquid used in resomation is “safely returned to the water cycle free from any traces of DNA”.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66081058
Northumbrian Water has granted approval for the resulting water to be sent back into the drainage network as “trade effluent”, the same permit used by launderettes.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/02/boil-in-the-bag-environmentally-friendly-funerals-arrive-in-uk-resomation-acquamation
With water being one of the most precious things we have, how much water will be used? A visit with other celebrants a few years ago to Resomation in Pudsey Leeds included a Q&A session. One of the questions I asked was how much water is used for each cycle and what happens to it afterwards.
The procedure uses 1500 litres of water per cycle which is less than half a person’s daily usage based on a study taking into consideration everything we use in our daily life.
https://resomation.com/news/bifd-article-resomation-natural-water-cremation/
Each person uses about 142 litres of water each day.
The average household uses 349 litres of water each day.
https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/reports/AtHomewithWater%287%29.pdf
Will Aquamation Replace Cremation?
It is human nature to mock things which are new. When cremation first became a choice, it was met with both positive and negative responses. On 26th March 1885 in Woking, Mrs Pickersgill became the first person to be cremated. Public opinion wasn’t all positive due to religious views at the time with many people being Christian. Belief was a cremated body couldn’t rise as the teachings of Christianity claimed they would during the second coming of Jesus. Cremation was seen by many as being disrespectful.
Currently (137 years after the first cremation took place), cremation is the most popular choice over burial and natural burial, with a reported 80% of funerals being cremations. Aquamation has been received with both positive and negative media reporting as was cremation when it was first introduced into the UK. Terms as ‘boil in the bag’ won’t prevent those looking for an alternative from choosing Aquamation. If Aquamation is the same prices as a cremation, there could be a decline in the amount of cremations taking place.
Will Aquamation be Expensive?
Early reports are Aquamation will be the same price as a cremation (cremation prices vary in all geographical locations). As currently only one funeral company are offering Aquamation, they can charge as little or as much as they choose to.
As previously mentioned, during a visit to Resomation’s facility in January 2019 many questions were asked including the need for coffins or similar containers for Aquamation. We were informed natural materials such as wool, cotton and more could be used to make pod like body holders. Recent reports state the possibility of pouches made from corn starch may be used. The cost of these if marketed as a Aquamation required product can be as high or as low as the funeral businesses selling them want them to be.
Is Aquamation For You?
The internet and social media have been a wash and flooded (no puns intended) with information and comments on Aquamation. Is it something you would consider, or has it affirmed your choice burial, natural or cremation are for you?
We come into this world surrounded by water, going out of this world surrounded by water seems natural and not as harsh as being cremated. No flames, less greenhouse gases, no need for grave space or a headstone and any metal objects we may have for medical reasons such as hip joints or plates will be reusable rather than being sent to scrap metal waste.
Aquamation is the first new body disposal method to be introduced in over 120 years. Has it paved the way for other alternative ways such as Human Composting (natural organic reduction)? Another thought for a different time.
For further information about arranging a celebration of life ceremony, please contact me.