FAQ

Water not FIRE

What actually happens? With Aquamation, your pet is respectfully placed in a stainless-steel compartment during the process. A combination of gentle water flow, temperature, and alkalinity are used to accelerate the natural process of tissue hydrolysis. All organic material is reduced to its most basic building blocks. At the end of the process, there is no DNA or RNA remaining. The sterile process water is released for recycling and only the inorganic bone minerals remain. The minerals are processed into powder and returned to the family.

Is the body dissolved in acid? No, Aquamation uses a catalyst called alkali, which is the chemical opposite of an acid. Alkalis are made from sodium and potassium salts.

What assurance do you have to know you are getting your pet’s ashes back? For private aquamation we place your pet in an individual compartment, and it’s identified with a stainless-steel tag during the aquamation process. At Above and Beyond Aquamation we are obsessed with chain of custody throughout the whole process. When your pet is picked up a QR code is attached that tracks your loved one from start to finish. Your pet’s QR code is scanned by our staff when it is picked up from your vet clinic, scanned again when it arrives at our facility, again when in cold storage prior to aquamation and again as we prepare your pets ashes for delivery back to your vet clinic.

Are the alkalis used in this process safe for the environment? Yes. The water-based process uses a solution of 95% water and 5% alkali. The alkalis used in this process are the same alkalis used in biodiesel production, common cosmetic products, body washes, shaving creams, and even in food preparation. At the end of the process, the chemical has been completely consumed, neutralized, and no longer remains in the water solution.

What happens to the water? It is returned to the ecosystem. We provide the effluent to farmers and ranchers to fertilize their crops and fields. The Aquamation process produces a completely sterile solution of amino acids, sugars, nutrients, salts, and soap in a water solution. These are the byproducts of natural decomposition.

Are the powdered ashes safe to handle? Yes, the remains are 100% safe, pathogen and disease free. The ash that is returned to the family is simply bone mineral, or calcium phosphate. The ashes will keep in an urn or may be buried or scattered in a special place as some families choose to do.

Why is this considered an environmentally friendly choice? Unlike typical flame-based cremation which uses fossil fuels, Aquamation uses water and alkalis. There are no direct emissions of harmful greenhouse gases or mercury to the atmosphere. It is very energy efficient - greater than 90% energy savings compared to flame-based cremation, with 1⁄10th of the carbon footprint.

What is the impact of the water usage? Virtually zero. The aquamation process uses less water than a single household uses in one day. This includes all of the water used for the process, along with the clean water rinsing of the final remains and vessel. The effluent is used to fertilize fields.

What kinds of animals can we accommodate? Dogs, cats, birds, exotics, and other pets. Please inquire if your animal is over 150 pounds.