When families in Durham, NC begin planning end-of-life arrangements, many are asking about aquamation, a water-based process that returns the body to its natural elements. Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, uses a combination of water, potassium hydroxide, and controlled heat to dissolve soft tissue at the cellular level, leaving behind only the mineral bone structure.
The process was first developed for agricultural and research use in the 1990s and has since gained legal status in over 20 U.S. states. For families seeking a lower-emission alternative to flame cremation or conventional burial, it offers a scientifically grounded option. Endswell Funeral Home in Durham serves families across Cary and Raleigh with aquamation, cremation, green burial, and traditional burial services.
The Science Behind Aquamation: What Actually Happens
Alkaline hydrolysis accelerates the same natural decomposition process that occurs in soil, completing it in a controlled chamber over 14 to 18 hours rather than years. The body is placed in a stainless steel vessel filled with a water-alkali solution typically 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide heated to approximately 150 to 177 degrees Celsius under pressurized conditions. At this temperature and pH level, the peptide bonds holding proteins together break apart through a chemical reaction called hydrolysis, reducing soft tissue to its base amino acids, peptides, and sugars.
The resulting liquid, called effluent, is a sterile, neutral-pH solution safely returned to the municipal water treatment system. Dr. Philip Wilson at the University of Florida’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where alkaline hydrolysis was first adapted for animal remains in the early 2000s, confirmed that the effluent contains no detectable DNA and no viable pathogens. What remains in the chamber are the calcium phosphate bones, dried and processed into a fine white powder. Families typically receive 20 to 30 percent more volume of remains than from flame cremation, due to the absence of heat-related bone loss.
How Aquamation Compares to Flame Cremation
Flame cremation burns the body at temperatures between 760 and 1,150 degrees Celsius, consuming approximately 285 kilowatt-hours of natural gas per cremation. It releases:
- Carbon dioxide directly into the atmosphere
- Mercury vapor from dental amalgam fillings
- Fine particulate matter from bone and tissue combustion
Aquamation uses roughly 90% less energy per body, according to data published by the Cremation Association of North America, and produces no direct air emissions during processing.
The bone ash returned to families from aquamation is chemically identical to the mineral content of living bone — primarily hydroxyapatite, a calcium phosphate compound. The color is white to off-white rather than the gray-to-tan range typical of flame cremation, where carbon residue and heat discoloration are common. Families who have received aquamation remains often describe them as softer and finer in texture. For families comparing options, the aquamation service page at Endswell Funeral Home provides specific details on what the process includes and what to expect at each step.
Environmental Footprint: What the Data Shows
A 2021 lifecycle analysis by researchers at the University of Toronto’s Department of Chemical Engineering calculated the following CO2-equivalent output per body:
- Alkaline hydrolysis (aquamation): approximately 35 kg CO2-equivalent
- Natural gas flame cremation: approximately 160 kg CO2-equivalent
- Conventional burial (including casket, embalming, and concrete vault): over 400 kg CO2-equivalent
Green burial, where the unembalmed body is placed directly in the ground without a vault, produces the lowest footprint, but aquamation falls well within the low-emission range.
Embalming fluid, which contains formaldehyde at concentrations between 5% and 35%, is not required in aquamation preparation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies formaldehyde as a probable human carcinogen, and peer-reviewed studies examining groundwater near conventional burial sites have documented its presence in surrounding soil. Aquamation bypasses this chemical entirely, making it a practical choice for families who want reduced environmental impact without choosing an in-ground option.
Legal Status and Regulatory Oversight
As of 2024, alkaline hydrolysis is legally permitted in 28 U.S. states, including North Carolina. The process is regulated under the same state funeral service licensing boards that govern flame cremation, with funeral homes required to maintain detailed chain-of-custody documentation throughout. Each body is processed individually, not in batches, and the vessel is cleaned thoroughly between uses.
North Carolina’s approval means families working with licensed providers in Durham, Cary, and Raleigh have full legal protection and regulatory oversight. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule, all funeral providers must give consumers itemized pricing and written documentation of services, which applies to aquamation providers operating in the state. Families may request documentation confirming the identification protocol used throughout the process.
Religious, Cultural, and Personal Considerations
Different faith traditions carry different positions on aquamation. Key points families commonly research include:
- The Catholic Church permits cremation but requires remains be kept together; individual dioceses vary on aquamation
- Most Protestant denominations have not issued formal rulings, leaving the decision to individual families
- Buddhist and Hindu traditions have historically centered on flame, though some practitioners accept aquamation based on the outcome of returning the body to elements
- Jewish and Muslim communities generally have not issued formal positions at the institutional level
Families who want a ceremony have the same options available as with flame cremation. A full service, graveside gathering, or private memorial can take place before or after the process. The remains can be:
- Kept in an urn
- Scattered in a meaningful location
- Incorporated into memorial keepsakes or objects
For families with multiple needs, services like green burial, traditional burial, anatomical gifts, and infant and fetal loss care remain available alongside aquamation at Endswell Funeral Home.
Is Aquamation Right for Your Loved One?
Aquamation fits a specific set of priorities. It is well-suited for families who want:
- Low environmental impact with no air emissions during processing
- No embalming chemicals used in preparation
- A larger volume of remains returned compared to flame cremation
- A water-based process that mirrors natural decomposition at an accelerated rate
It may not align with families whose faith tradition requires flame, or those who place weight on in-ground burial as a final act.
The cost of aquamation is generally comparable to or slightly higher than flame cremation at most providers, reflecting the specialized equipment involved. Speaking directly with a licensed funeral director who can walk through the specific logistics, timeline, and what the remains will look like is the most practical next step. Additional environmental comparison data is available through the EPA’s resource page on hazardous waste and funeral practices for families who want to weigh options using regulatory and environmental data.
Endswell Funeral Home serves families in Durham, Cary, and Raleigh, NC with aquamation, cremation, green burial, traditional burial, anatomical gifts, and infant and fetal loss services.
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