Aquamation does basically what it says on the tin and disposes of a body by using water instead of flame. It is, therefore, deemed a more natural, ethical, and environmentally friendly alternative to cremation or burial. It is also referred to as water cremation, hydro cremation, or bio cremation. The scientific term for the process is alkaline hydrolysis, and it was invented in the late 19th century for use on livestock.
Alkaline hydrolysis is currently legal in 28 states. However, this number is constantly in flux as statutes change or are even repealed in some cases. Bills to pass approval for Alkaline Hydrolysis are presently pending in a further six states.
We expect to see that more states will begin to pass legislation on aquamation as the demand for a greener alternative to flame cremation increases. Not to mention the fact that gas prices continue to be on the rise.
Although aquamation is legal in 28 states, not all states actually have funeral service providers who have adopted the technology.
To learn more about aquamation, read our post “Aquamation or Resomation: A ‘Green’ Alternative to the traditional Funeral”.
| State | Current Status 2021 | Further Details |
| Alabama | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Alabama in 2017 when the statute added alkaline hydrolysis to its definition of cremation. |
| Alaska | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Alaska. |
| Arizona | Legal | Funeral Homes offering – unknown |
| Arkansas | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Arkansas. |
| California | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in 2017 in California, and the law went into effect in 2020 (Section 7611.9 of the California Business and Professions Code). |
| Colorado | Legal without explicit statute | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in 2011 in Colorado when the state changed the definition of cremation (Colorado Statutes § 12-54-102.) |
| Connecticut | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis is legal in Connecticut, as seen in the Substitute Senate Bill No. 142. It is available in some funeral homes. |
| Delaware | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Delaware. |
| Florida | Legal and available in the state | Florida was one of the first states to legalize alkaline hydrolysis by gradually expanding its definition of “cremation” to include methods not pertaining to incineration (Florida Statutes § 497.005.). |
| Georgia | Legal without explicit statute | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in 2012 in Georgia when they changed the state’s definition of cremation (Ga. Code Ann. 43-18-1.). However, not many funeral homes still offer aquamation. |
| Hawaii | Legal as of July 2022 – HB 1894 signed into law | State Gov. David Y. Ige passed legislation and made Akaline Hydrolysis legal in Hawaii. |
| Idaho | Legal but not available in the state | Although alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Idaho in 2014, when the Senate Commerce & Human Resources Committee amended the Rules of the State Board of Morticians, no funeral homes currently offer aquamation. |
| Illinois | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in 2012 in Illinois when they changed the state’s definition of cremation to include the process (See 410 ILCS § 18/5.). Several funeral homes now offer aquamation. |
| Indiana | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Indiana. |
| Iowa | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Iowa. |
| Kansas | Legal but not available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Kansas in 2011 when the state expanded its definition of cremation to include other methods than just “direct exposure to intense heat and flame” (Kansas Statutes § 65-1760.). No funeral homes in Kansas currently offer aquamation. However, it is offered in Kansas City, Missouri. |
| Kentucky | No legislation passed but is pending | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Kentucky. |
| Louisiana | No Legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Louisiana. |
| Maine | Legal without explicit statute | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Maine in 2009 when the Attorney General approved a new definition of cremation in the Maine Rules for Establishment and Operation of Crematoria. There is currently one facility in Maine that offers aquamation services to funeral homes throughout the state. |
| Maryland | Legal but not available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Maryland in 2010 when the state changed the definition of cremation to include processes other than heat and flame (Maryland Business Regulation Code § 5-101.). However, there is currently no facility in Maryland offering the process for human remains. |
| Massachusetts | State Gov. David Y. Ige passed legislation and made Alkaline Hydrolysis legal in Hawaii. | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Massachusetts. |
| Michigan | Legal | Alkaline hydrolysis appears to be offered by some funeral homes in Michigan. |
| Minnesota | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Minnesota in 2003 when the process was given licensing regulations and requirements. Several funeral homes currently offer aquamation in Minnesota. |
| Mississippi | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Mississippi. |
| Missouri | Legal without explicit statute | There are no laws/ statutes explicitly allowing alkaline hydrolysis in Missouri. However, the process is considered a legal final disposition method as it falls within the state’s definition of “cremation” (See 20 CSR 2120-2.071). Several funeral homes offer aquamation in Missouri. |
| Montana | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Montana. |
| Nebraska | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Nebraska. |
| Nevada | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Nevada in 2017 when Assembly Bill 205 was passed, which included a specific definition of alkaline hydrolysis. Several funeral homes offer aquamation in Nevada. |
| New Hampshire | It was legal but no longer legal | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in New Hampshire in 2006 before being repealed in 2008. There was an effort to pass a new bill in 2013, but this failed. One funeral home in Jaffrey currently works with a facility in Maine and sends human remains there to be legally processed. |
| New Jersey | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in New Jersey. |
| New Mexico | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in New Mexico. |
| New York | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in New York. |
| North Carolina | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in North Carolina in 2018 when N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-210.136 came into effect. |
| North Dakota | Legal | Funeral Homes offering – unknown |
| Ohio | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Ohio. |
| Oklahoma | Legal | First location started offering aquamation in 2022. |
| Oregon | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Oregon in 2009 when the state changed its definition of “final disposition” to include the dissolution of human remains (Oregon Revised Statutes § 692.010(4).) Aquamation is regulated by the state’s Mortuary and Cemetery Board, and several funeral homes currently offer aquamation in Oregon. |
| Pennsylvania | No legislation passed, but pending | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Pennsylvania. |
| Rhode Island | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Rhode Island. |
| South Carolina | No legislation passed | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in South Carolina. |
| South Dakota | No legislation passed, but pending | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in South Dakota. |
| Tennessee | Legal | Funeral Homes offering – unknown |
| Texas | No legislation passed, but pending | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Texas. |
| Utah | Legal and available in the state | Utah passed a bill specifically allowing alkaline hydrolysis in 2018. Utah Aquamation in Tooele is currently the only facility offering alkaline hydrolysis and works with funeral homes in Utah to provide the service. |
| Vermont | Legal but not available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Vermont in 2014 (26 V.S.A. 21 § 1211). To perform the process, individuals must obtain a license from the state and are thus subject to rules by the state licensing board. However, there are currently no funeral homes offering aquamation in Vermont. |
| Virginia | Legal | Senate Bill 1487 passed February 2023 |
| Washington | Legal and available in the state | Alkaline hydrolysis was legalized in Washington in 2020 when the state passed a law allowing for it (See RCW 68.50.110). It is currently available in Seattle for both humans and pets. |
| Washington D.C. | No legislation passed | No legislation passed, but pending |
| West Virginia | Legal | Funeral Homes offering – unknown |
| Wisconsin | No legislation passed, but pending | There is currently no legislation or regulations for alkaline hydrolysis in Wisconsin. |
| Wyoming | Legal but not available in the state | Wyoming changed the Funeral Services Practitioners Act in 2014 to include “chemical disposition” (Wyoming Statutes § 33-16-502.) However, there is currently no facility offering the process for human remains in Wyoming. |
