The short version: aquamation produces dramatically less carbon than flame cremation, but in Canada it usually costs more, not less, and only a handful of providers offer it. Flame cremation is available in every province. Aquamation is legal in at least five Canadian jurisdictions and practically available in far fewer.
If you're weighing the two, the gap between "legal in Canada" and "available near me" is usually the frustrating part. Traditional cremation has been used for centuries. Aquamation, also called water cremation, aqua cremation or alkaline hydrolysis, is newer and is getting a lot of attention. Here's how they actually compare, starting with the differences that tend to decide it for families: cost, time and where you can get it.
Aquamation vs cremation: a quick comparison
| At a glance | Flame cremation | Aquamation (water cremation) |
|---|---|---|
| Method | High-temperature fire and heat | Warm water and a mild alkaline solution |
| Temperature | About 760 to 982°C | About 150°C |
| Duration | 2 to 3 hours | 6 to 8 hours |
| Carbon output | Up to roughly 730 kg CO₂ | Under 1 kg CO₂ |
| Water and electricity use | Lower | Higher |
| Ashes returned | Standard grey ash | Finer, paler, about 20-30% more |
| Typical Canadian cost | Often less than aquamation | Roughly $2,000 to $5,000 |
| Availability in Canada | Every province | At least five jurisdictions, very few operators |
Note: prices and availability vary by region, and the figures above are typical ranges rather than quotes.
What is traditional (flame) cremation?
Traditional cremation uses high-temperature fire and heat to reduce the body to bone fragments, which are then processed into ashes. The process takes place in a specialized furnace called a cremation chamber, where temperatures reach between 760 and 982°C.
The entire cremation process usually takes 2 to 3 hours, and families receive the ashes within a few days. Those ashes can be kept in an urn, scattered in a meaningful location, or used in memorial jewellery.
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What is aquamation (water cremation)?
Aquamation, also known as alkaline hydrolysis, water cremation or aqua cremation, uses water, an alkaline solution, heat, and gentle pressure to break the body down. It's the same process that happens naturally when a body is laid to rest in soil, accelerated in a controlled, sterile environment.
How does aquamation work, step by step?
Aquamation uses warm water, a mild alkaline solution and gentle circulation, at about 150°C for 6 to 8 hours, to break the body down, leaving only the bone minerals, which are dried and returned as ashes.
- The body is placed in a stainless-steel vessel. It is filled with a mixture of roughly 95% water and 5% potassium hydroxide.
- The solution is heated and circulated. It runs at about 150°C for 6 to 8 hours.
- Everything dissolves except the bone minerals. What remains of the soft tissue is a sterile liquid, which is treated before it is discharged (more on that below).
- The bones are dried and processed into a fine powder, similar to cremation ashes, and returned to the family.
Because there's no combustion, the remains come back a clean white or light tan rather than grey, the texture is finer (closer to flour than grit), and families receive about 20 to 30% more of them.
How much does aquamation cost vs cremation in Canada?
Cost is a fair thing to ask about first, and you're not being crass for asking.
Aquamation in Canada generally runs $2,000 to $5,000, depending on the province, the provider, and what's bundled in. In Quebec, the province's only provider quotes roughly $2,000 to $2,500 plus about $1 per kilometre for pickup outside Granby. In Ontario, direct aquamation typically starts around $2,000.
Is aquamation cheaper than cremation?
Usually not. This surprises most people.
Many pages call aquamation the budget-friendly green option. In Canada, that isn't right. It usually costs more than flame cremation, for three practical reasons:
- The equipment is specialized and there is very little of it
- The cycle runs two to three times longer
- With so few facilities, nothing pushes prices down
Then add transport if the nearest operator is hours away.
If cost is your main constraint, a simple flame cremation is almost always the more affordable route. Cleo offers direct cremation at a fixed, all-inclusive price: what we quote is what you pay, and the final bill matches that first quote. You can see current pricing here. If you'd like to know exactly what the process involves, we walk through what happens during a cremation step by step.
Where is aquamation (water cremation) available in Canada?
This is where "legal" and "available" part ways.
As of 2026, aquamation is lawful in at least five Canadian jurisdictions: Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories (since 2020). In Ontario, the funeral law has covered alkaline hydrolysis since it took effect in 2012, and the first licensed operator opened in 2015.
Quebec's situation is worth explaining, because a lot of pages get it wrong. Quebec never passed a law naming aquamation. Instead, the *Loi sur les activités funéraires* defines a cremation service as disposing of a body "by fire or by any other chemical or physical process." Alkaline hydrolysis is a chemical process, so it qualifies. If you've read that Quebec legalized aquamation "in 2015," treat that date with caution: 2015 is when the first Ontario operator opened, not a Quebec law date.
Actually finding a provider is the harder part:
- Ontario has about four licensed operators, concentrated in eastern Ontario and Durham Region. Families in Toronto and the GTA have no local option and remains must be transported. Our guide to aquamation in Ontario covers who offers it and what they charge.
- Quebec has exactly one: Complexe funéraire J.A. Le Sieur in Granby. They serve the whole province and arrange transport, but the process happens in Granby. See aquamation in Quebec for the full cost picture, including the transport surcharge most providers don't publish.
- Everywhere else in Canada, it isn't currently an option.
Traditional cremation, by contrast, is available in every province through thousands of funeral homes and crematoriums.
One thing we'd rather say plainly: Cleo offers direct cremation, not aquamation. If aquamation is what your family wants, the providers above are who to call. We'd rather tell you that upfront than leave it for you to find three pages down. And if you're leaning toward flame cremation but still have questions, a real person answers 24/7 at (438) 817-1770.
Environmental impact: how much greener is aquamation?
Maybe someone in your family cared about the environment. That deserves a straight answer, not a sales pitch.
The carbon gap is striking. Protégez-Vous found that aquamation produces under 1 kilogram of CO₂. Flame cremation produces up to 730 kilograms. That is aquamation's strongest advantage, and it's a big one.
Fewer pages mention the other side. Aquamation uses more water and more electricity than flame cremation. No one has published a full lifecycle study comparing the two. And if you have to drive to Granby or eastern Ontario, that travel creates real emissions a local cremation would not.
So: aquamation wins clearly on carbon. It loses on water and electricity. The full picture is still unsettled. If lowering your environmental impact is the goal, aquamation is a reasonable choice, just not the slam dunk some pages describe.
Making your choice
Both methods offer dignified ways to say goodbye. Your decision might come down to:
- Local availability: often the deciding factor, not preference
- Budget: flame cremation is usually less expensive in Canada
- Environmental values: carbon versus water and electricity
- Personal beliefs: some families simply find water gentler than fire, and that's a legitimate reason on its own
- Timeline: aquamation adds hours to the process and often days of travel
- Family traditions: what your family has always done, or what your loved one would have wanted
Questions worth asking any provider: a full written cost breakdown including transport, the expected timeline, what environmental claims are actually based on, which memorial options are available, and who handles transport and paperwork. Ask for the numbers in writing before you commit. Any provider should be able to give them to you over the phone.
Questions families ask
Aquamation vs cremation: common questions
Is aquamation the same as water cremation?
Yes. Aquamation, water cremation, aqua cremation, flameless cremation and alkaline hydrolysis are all names for the same process: the body is broken down with warm water and an alkaline solution instead of fire. In Quebec, the law treats it as a form of cremation, because the province defines cremation as disposing of a body by fire or by any other chemical or physical process.
Is aquamation better than cremation?
It depends on what matters most to your family. Aquamation is clearly better on carbon, at under 1 kg of CO₂ against up to 730 kg for flame cremation. It uses more water and electricity, usually costs more in Canada, and is available from very few operators, so remains often travel. Flame cremation is faster, cheaper and available in every province. Neither is more respectful than the other.
How long does aquamation take?
The process itself takes about 6 to 8 hours, compared with 2 to 3 hours for flame cremation. The full timeline from pickup to receiving the ashes is usually longer than that. With so few operators, remains may need to be transported to Granby or eastern Ontario, and scheduling can take extra days. Ask any provider for their typical timeline from pickup to the return of the remains.
What happens to the water after aquamation?
Once the soft tissue has dissolved, what's left is a sterile liquid. What happens to it next is regulated. In Quebec, for example, environmental rules require it to be neutralized and filtered before it is discharged. The bones are not part of that liquid: they are dried, processed into a fine powder and returned to the family, just as with flame cremation.
Are aquamation ashes different from cremation ashes?
Yes, a little. Aquamation ashes are whiter or light tan rather than grey, finer in texture, and there are about 20 to 30% more of them. You can keep, scatter or bury them just as you would flame cremation ashes. Because there's more volume, ask the provider whether a standard urn will hold them before you buy one.
Can you have a funeral or viewing before aquamation?
Yes, depending on the provider. Direct aquamation skips the formal funeral service, much like direct cremation. Some funeral homes that offer aquamation also offer it as part of a fuller package with a viewing or ceremony. If a gathering matters to your family, ask each provider exactly what their package includes and what it costs in writing.
Looking ahead
As more Canadians learn about aquamation, interest keeps growing, and a handful of funeral homes now offer both options. Whether availability broadens in the rest of the country depends on provincial regulators and on whether operators can justify the equipment.
If either method interests you, it's worth discussing your preferences with your family now. Talking it through ahead of time means the people you leave behind won't have to guess what you would have wanted, and that can bring real peace of mind later.
Support and resources
If you're looking for more information or support, these are worth a call:
- The provider directly, for cost, timing, and transport specifics
- Your provincial funeral regulator: the Bereavement Authority of Ontario in Ontario, the ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux in Quebec
- Provincial bereavement and grief support associations
- A religious or cultural advisor, if that matters to your family
Final thoughts
Take your time with this. Choosing how your loved one is laid to rest carries real weight, and it's normal to want to get it right. The best option is the one that fits your family's values and circumstances while honouring your loved one's wishes.
Whether you're planning ahead or facing an immediate need, Cleo offers direct cremation at a fixed, all-inclusive price, and the final bill matches the first quote. If you have questions about arranging a cremation, or you just want help thinking it through, our team is available 24/7 at (438) 817-1770.