What is water cremation? Here’s what happens to the human body during the resomation process

Aquamations is coming to the UK, as Co-op Funeralcare has confirmed it will offer the service later this year.

Also known as alkaline hydrolysis, resomations, or water cremations, the process involves quickly decomposing a corpse in a stream of water and alkaline chemicals, leaving only liquid and bones.

It offers an environmentally conscious alternative to burials and cremations, which burn a lot of fuel and emit greenhouse gases.

But what is a water cremation and what happens to the human body during the process?

MailOnline unveils its step-by-step plan for water cremations.

What is a water cremation?

During the aquamation process, the body is placed in a stainless steel vessel.

Alkali is added, based on individual characteristics (weight, gender, embalming status), before filling the vessel with water.

The solution of 95 percent water and 5 percent alkali is heated to 200-300°F and gently circulated for the entire duration of the process.

At the end of the process, all the material is broken down into the smallest building blocks; there is no more DNA or RNA left.

The sterile process water is released for recycling and the vessel flushes the equipment and residues with fresh water.

When the operator opens the door, only the inorganic bone minerals remain, which are powdered and returned to the family in an urn.

This final processing step is the same process followed in flame cremation.

Why is it better for the environment?

According to the Atlantic Oceanaquamation has about one-tenth the environmental impact of flame cremation, which requires a lot of fuel.

Cremation is bad for the environment because large amounts of carbon dioxide and other pollutants are released into the air.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average cremation produces about 535 pounds of carbon dioxide, which is equivalent to driving a car for about 600 miles.

Another traditional option is burial, but the problem with this is that it often takes years for the vessel containing the body to break down in the ground if it is made of metal or plastic.

Even if the barrel is compostable, such as a pine box, the decomposing corpse usually does not have a healthy impact on the soil and can often prevent grass and plants from growing well.

How much is it?

While the costs for aquamations remain unclear, Funeral Guide claims it will be around the same prices as a traditional cremation.

“An environmentally friendly cremation is expected to cost about the same as a traditional flame cremation,” it explains on its website.

‘These costs can vary at crematoria in the UK – and the fee is usually included as part of the total funeral bill.’

Why has interest in water cremation increased in Britain?

Interest in water cremations increased after Archbishop Desmond Tutu opted for the environmentally friendly process for his remains following his death on Boxing Day in 2021.

The Dean of St George’s Cathedral, the Very Rev Michael Weeder, said Archbishop Tutu had ‘the ambition to become an eco-warrior’.

When will it be available in the UK?

The Co-op, the largest funeral provider hosting more than 93,000 funerals a year, will work with sustainability experts to corroborate existing research during its first regional pilot later this year.

The practice is becoming increasingly popular in the US, Canada and South Africa.

With the introduction, an alternative to burial or cremation will be available for the first time since the Cremation Act in 1902.

A poll for Co-op Funeralcare found that 89 percent of adults had never heard of resomation, but after an explanation, a third said they would choose it for their funeral.

Professor Douglas Davies, an expert on death rituals at the University of Durham, said: ‘The reduced carbon footprint that can come with resomation means it will be of interest to many people.’