Water Cremation in the U.S.: Where It's Legal and Available Facilities

The internet has let me down with over the years is providing an up to date list of providers with access to a water cremation facility. I sat down and poured over each state to find out who has it, and who to call.

What is Water Cremation?

Water cremation involves placing the body in a pressurized vessel filled with water and a small amount of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide. The mixture is gently heated, dissolving soft tissue and leaving behind clean white bones (processed into ashes) and a sterile liquid byproduct. Unlike traditional cremation, it produces no harmful emissions and has a significantly lower carbon footprint.

States Where Water Cremation is Legal

Alabama

• Legalized: 2017
• Facility:
• Miller Funeral Home, Oxford, AL

Arizona

• Legalized: 2023
• Notes: No current facilities available.

California

• Legalized: 2017
• Facilities:
• White Rose Aqua Cremation, Escondido, CA
• Simply Remembered, Santa Barbara, CA
• Natural Grace, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
• Still Waters Funeral Service, San Diego, CA
• Pacific Interment, Emeryville, CA
• Aqua-Terra, Redding, CA

Colorado

• Legalized: 2017
• Facilities:
• The Natural Funeral, Lafayette, CO
• Be A Tree Cremation, Denver, CO
• Goes Funeral Care & Crematory, Fort Collins, CO

Connecticut

• Legalized: 2017
• Facilities:
• John Tierney Funeral Home, Hartford, CT
• BC Bailey Funeral Home, Wallingford, CT

Florida

• Legalized: 2010
• Facility:
• Gentle Water Cremation, West Palm Beach, FL

Georgia

• Legalized: 2010
• Facility:
• Miller Funeral Home, Tallapoosa, GA

Hawaii

• Legalized: 2022
• Facility:
• Aloha Mortuary, Honolulu, HI

Idaho

• Legalized: 2014
• Facility:
• English Funeral Chapel, Coeur d'Alene, ID

Illinois

• Legalized: 2012
• Facilities:
• UC Davis Callahan Funeral Home, Morris, IL
• Aquagreen Dispositions, South Holland, IL
• Colonial Chapel Funeral Home, Orland Park, IL

Kansas

• Legalized: 2010
• Notes: No facilities available; neighboring states like Missouri offer services.

Maine

• Legalized: 2009
• Facilities:
• Direct Cremation of Maine, Belfast, ME
• Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes, Portland, ME

Maryland

• Legalized: 2011
• Facility:
• Joseph H. Brown Funeral Home, Baltimore, MD

Michigan

• Legalized: Not explicitly regulated but permitted.
• Facilities:
• Central Michigan Cremation, Mount Pleasant, MI
• Comfort Cremation Services, Troy, MI
• Lake Michigan Crematory, Holland, MI

Minnesota

• Legalized: 2003
• Facilities:
• Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Jordan, MN
• Cremation Society of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
• Bradshaw Funeral & Cremation Services, Minneapolis, MN

Missouri

• Legal Status: Included under general cremation law.
• Facilities:
• Hughes Funeral Alternatives, St. Louis, MO
• Schrader Funeral Home & Crematory, Ballwin, MO
• Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services, St. Peters, MO
• Shepard Funeral Chapel, St. Louis, MO

Nevada

• Legalized: 2017
• Facility:
• Kraft-Sussman Funeral & Cremation Services, Las Vegas, NV
• Green Farewells, Clark County, NV

North Carolina

• Legalized: 2018
• Facilities:
• Endswell Funeral Home, Hillsborough, NC
• Tranquility Cremation, Wilmington, NC

Oklahoma

• Legalized: 2021
• Facility:
• McElyea and Owens Funeral Group, Shawnee, OK

Oregon

• Legalized: 2009
• Facilities:
• River View Cemetery Funeral Home, Portland, OR
• Rose City Cemetery & Funeral Home, Portland, OR
• Cascade Cremation & Burial, Klamath Falls, OR

Tennessee

• Legalized: 2013
• Facilities:
• Sykes Funeral Home & Crematory, Clarksville, TN
• Tennessee Cremation Care, Clarksville, TN
• Cremation and Funeral Services of Tennessee, Nashville, TN

Utah

• Legalized: 2018
• Facilities:
• Dalton-Hoopes Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Grantsville, UT
• Memorial Mortuaries and Cemeteries, Salt Lake City, UT
• Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapels & Cremation Center, Murray, UT

Vermont

• Legalized: 2014
• Facilities: Green Cremation Solutions, Bennington, VT (expected Spring 2025)

Washington State

• Legalized: 2020
• Facilities:
• Elemental Cremation & Burial, Seattle, WA
• Bonney Watson Funeral Home, Seattle, WA
• The Co-op Funeral Home of People's Memorial, Seattle, WA

West Virginia

• Legalized: Legal but no facilities available.

Wyoming

• Legalized: 2014
• Notes: No facilities available.

States Without Water Cremation

One thing to keep in mind, ANY funeral home can offer water cremation, even if they do not have a facility.  It is as simple as planning arrangements to be transported to the nearest facility, which may be as simple as the next state over.

Unfortunately, in several states, water cremation remains illegal or unregulated. These states include:

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Delaware
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire (previously legal but repealed)
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington D.C.
• Wisconsin

Why Choose Water Cremation?

Water cremation offers numerous benefits:

• Environmentally Friendly: Reduces emissions and energy consumption.
• Gentle Process: Mimics natural decomposition.
• Cost-Effective: Comparable pricing to traditional cremation.

As demand for sustainable end-of-life options grows, more states are recognizing the importance of legalizing water cremation.

Final Thoughts

Water cremation is a growing trend across the United States. With its environmental benefits and gentle process, it's no surprise that more families are considering this alternative. If you're in a state where water cremation is legal, reach out to one of the facilities listed to explore your options.

For those in states without legal water cremation, advocacy and education can help pave the way for future changeIn recent years, water cremation (also known as alkaline hydrolysis or aquamation) has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional flame-based cremation. This innovative method uses a water and alkaline solution to gently break down the body, mimicking natural decomposition in an accelerated process. It's more sustainable, producing fewer emissions and consuming less energy.

If you know of a facility that has not made this list, please let us know!  EMAIL