Water cremation
Water, alkaline chemicals and heat in place of flame. Allowed in some states, and not every state that allows it has a facility.
What it is
Water cremation is called alkaline hydrolysis in the law. Minnesota defines it as reducing a body to essential elements through a water-based process using alkaline chemicals, heat, agitation and pressure.
As with flame cremation, the bone fragments that remain are processed and released to the family. Arizona's definition includes these steps.
Good to know
- A state law that allows it does not mean a facility operates near you. Ask local funeral homes whether they offer it or work with a facility.
- Some states define cremation as using flame and heat only. Ohio and Texas are two of them.
Water cremation by state
| State | Does state law provide for it? |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alabama Board of Funeral Service. |
| Alaska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Mortuary Science. |
| Arizona | Legal Arizona law treats alkaline hydrolysis as a form of final disposition. |
| Arkansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Arkansas State Board of Embalmers, Funeral Directors, Cemeteries, and Burial Services. |
| California | Legal Allowed at hydrolysis facilities licensed by the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau. |
| Colorado | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Colorado Office of Funeral and Mortuary Science Services. |
| Connecticut | Legal Connecticut defines cremation as incineration or alkaline hydrolysis. |
| Delaware | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Delaware Board of Funeral Services. |
| District of Columbia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the DC Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Florida | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Florida Division of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services. |
| Georgia | Legal Georgia's funeral law lists alkaline hydrolysis as a means of cremation. |
| Hawaii | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Hawaii Department of Health. |
| Idaho | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Idaho Board of Morticians. |
| Illinois | Legal Illinois defines cremation as heat and flame or alkaline hydrolysis. |
| Indiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Indiana State Board of Funeral and Cemetery Service. |
| Iowa | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Iowa Board of Mortuary Science. |
| Kansas | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kansas State Board of Mortuary Arts. |
| Kentucky | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Kentucky Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Louisiana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Louisiana State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Maine | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Maine Board of Funeral Services. |
| Maryland | Legal Regulated under the Green Death Care Options Act since October 1, 2024. |
| Massachusetts | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Embalming and Funeral Directing. |
| Michigan | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Mortuary Science. |
| Minnesota | Legal Allowed at alkaline hydrolysis facilities licensed by the Department of Health. |
| Mississippi | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Missouri | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Missouri State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors. |
| Montana | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Montana Board of Funeral Service. |
| Nebraska | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Funeral Directing and Embalming. |
| Nevada | Legal Nevada law has counted alkaline hydrolysis as cremation since 2017. |
| New Hampshire | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Hampshire Board of Registration of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| New Jersey | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Jersey State Board of Mortuary Science. |
| New Mexico | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New Mexico Board of Funeral Services. |
| New York | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Funeral Directing. |
| North Carolina | Legal North Carolina's funeral law defines and regulates alkaline hydrolysis. |
| North Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the North Dakota State Board of Funeral Service. |
| Ohio | Not in state law Ohio law defines cremation as using heat and flame only. |
| Oklahoma | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Oklahoma Funeral Board. |
| Oregon | Legal Allowed in Oregon as a licensed form of reduction. |
| Pennsylvania | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Pennsylvania State Board of Funeral Directors. |
| Rhode Island | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| South Carolina | Legal South Carolina defines cremation as alkaline hydrolysis or heat and flame. |
| South Dakota | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the South Dakota Board of Funeral Service. |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Texas | Not in state law Texas law defines cremation as direct flame, extreme heat and evaporation. |
| Utah | Legal Utah's funeral services law defines and regulates alkaline hydrolysis. |
| Vermont | Legal Vermont's disposition facilities may use alkaline hydrolysis. |
| Virginia | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. |
| Washington | Legal Legal since May 1, 2020. |
| West Virginia | Legal West Virginia's funeral law defines alkaline hydrolysis. |
| Wisconsin | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Examining Board. |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed yet We have not confirmed this state's law yet. Ask the Wyoming State Board of Funeral Service Practitioners. |
Common questions
- Is water cremation legal in my state?
- The table below lists the states where we read a law that provides for alkaline hydrolysis, and the states whose law defines cremation as flame and heat only. For the rest we have not confirmed the law yet, and the table links to the state's funeral regulator.
- Can the family watch?
- In California, every licensed hydrolysis facility allows the next of kin and family to view the process. Elsewhere, ask the facility.
Funeral homes near you
Call two or three homes and compare their written price lists.