Water Cremation in Ontario: How Alkaline Hydrolysis Works and What It Costs

Alkaline hydrolysis — often marketed as water cremation, aquamation, or flameless cremation — is a legal method of final disposition in Ontario. It is regulated by the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) under the same statutory framework as flame cremation, and it follows the same documentation requirements. What differs is the process itself, the environmental profile, and some of the specific preparation requirements.

If you are considering this option for a family member, here is what Ontario law requires, how the process works, and what questions to ask a provider.

What Is Alkaline Hydrolysis?

Alkaline hydrolysis uses a water-based solution of potassium hydroxide (or, in some systems, sodium hydroxide) combined with heat and pressure to accelerate the natural decomposition of organic tissue. The process takes several hours and results in a sterile liquid effluent (disposed of through standard wastewater treatment facilities) and bone mineral fragments that are processed into a white, fine-grained ash — similar in appearance to the remains produced by flame cremation, though typically slightly more in volume and lighter in colour.

The process is marketed on its environmental credentials: it uses substantially less energy than flame cremation, produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions or mercury releases from dental amalgam, and generates no combustion byproducts.

Is It Legal in Ontario?

Yes. Alkaline hydrolysis has been legal in Ontario since the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA) was amended to include it as a regulated disposition method. The BAO licenses alkaline hydrolysis facilities and inspects them on the same basis as crematoriums.

Internationally, the legality varies:

• UK: Alkaline hydrolysis is not yet legal in England and Wales, though Scotland has been examining the regulatory framework.
• Australia: Legal in several states, including Victoria, where it is available commercially.
• New Zealand: Not yet commercially available.
• Canada: Legal in Ontario and several other provinces including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.

Ontario families whose relatives died in a jurisdiction where alkaline hydrolysis is not available may be able to arrange transport to Ontario for the procedure, subject to the out-of-province body shipment certification requirements.

Required Documents and Permits

Alkaline hydrolysis follows the identical documentation sequence as flame cremation:

Medical Certificate of Death. Completed by the attending physician, nurse practitioner, or coroner. Required before the body can be transferred.

Statement of Death. Completed by the funeral director and a family informant. Submitted to the municipal clerk's office along with the Medical Certificate of Death.

Burial Permit. Issued by the municipal clerk after the death is registered. The hydrolysis facility must hold the original permit before proceeding.

Coroner's Cremation Certificate. Required for all cremation-equivalent procedures in Ontario, including alkaline hydrolysis. The funeral provider applies to the Office of the Chief Coroner on your behalf. The provincial fee is approximately $75. This certificate is standard and does not imply any investigation — it is the coroner's review confirming no further forensic examination of the remains is required before irreversible disposition.

Preparation Differences from Flame Cremation

The preparation of remains for alkaline hydrolysis differs from flame cremation in some practical ways:

Pacemakers do not need to be removed. Flame cremation requires surgical removal of pacemakers and other battery-powered implants before the procedure because the combustion process can cause them to explode. Alkaline hydrolysis does not generate the temperatures or pressures that trigger this risk. This means the body can proceed without the surgical intervention required for flame cremation, which some families find relevant when making a decision.

Radioactive implants require a waiting period. However, if the deceased had a radioactive implant — such as those used in certain cancer treatments, including brachytherapy seeds — the alkaline hydrolysis facility must wait until the radioactivity has decayed to safe levels before proceeding. Depending on the isotope and the duration of implantation, this waiting period can extend to approximately two years in some cases. The funeral provider will advise you if this applies.

Standard medical implants. Metal orthopaedic implants (hip replacements, screws, pins) are unaffected by the process and are recovered, cleaned, and typically sent for recycling or returned to the family upon request.

How Remains Are Returned

Following the process, the sterile bone mineral fragments are dried and processed into a fine ash. The ash is returned to the family in a container, similar to flame cremation remains. The resulting ash is typically slightly greater in volume than what flame cremation produces and may appear slightly lighter in colour. Families can choose any urn or container and handle the ash under the same rules that apply to cremated remains — including scattering on Crown land, private property (with owner consent), or interment in a licensed cemetery.

Finding a Provider in Ontario

Not every funeral home or crematorium in Ontario currently offers alkaline hydrolysis. The BAO maintains a directory of licensed facilities, and you can verify whether a specific provider is licensed for alkaline hydrolysis before proceeding. When requesting quotes, ask specifically for the alkaline hydrolysis fee schedule — providers are legally required to give you an itemized price list under the FBCSA, and you can compare costs across providers.

Alkaline hydrolysis is frequently priced comparably to or slightly higher than flame cremation at the same provider, though this varies. Direct providers who offer only the procedure itself, without a full-service funeral package, often charge significantly less than full-service funeral homes.

Cost Comparison

There is no standard provincial rate. Alkaline hydrolysis from a dedicated provider in Ontario can range from approximately $1,800 to $3,500, with full-service funeral homes that include alkaline hydrolysis as part of a broader package typically pricing higher. The mandatory government fees (Burial Permit, Coroner's Cremation Certificate, BAO regulatory fee) are the same regardless of which provider you choose.

Complaining About a Provider

If a licensed alkaline hydrolysis facility in Ontario violates the FBCSA — by failing to provide a price list, misrepresenting what is required, or failing to return remains within a reasonable time — the complaint pathway is the same as for any other licensed funeral provider: file a formal complaint with the BAO.

For the complete disposition rules in Ontario — including what you can do with the remains after the process, how the Burial Permit sequence works, and how alkaline hydrolysis compares to other options — the Ontario Funeral Laws & Consumer Rights Guide covers each method with the same level of practical detail.

See more Ontario guides →