What Is Pet Aquamation (Water Cremation)? How It Works, What It Costs, and How It Compares to Flame Cremation
Pet aquamation uses warm water and alkali instead of fire to reduce your pet's body to ashes. It uses 90% less energy than flame cremation and costs $75–$550+ in the GTA. Here's how it works and how it compares.
Pet aquamation — also called water cremation or alkaline hydrolysis — uses warm water and alkali instead of fire to gently break down your pet's body, leaving clean bone that's processed into ashes. The ashes you receive look and feel similar to flame cremation ashes, but the process uses roughly 90% less energy and produces no direct emissions.
In the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, communal aquamation typically costs $75–$250 and private aquamation with ashes returned costs $250–$550+, depending on your pet's size and the provider's package level — generally comparable to or slightly above flame cremation pricing.
If you're deciding between aquamation and flame cremation, this guide explains how each works, what the ashes look like, what it costs at GTHA-area providers, and whether the differences matter in practice.
How Aquamation Works
Your pet is placed in a sealed stainless steel vessel filled with approximately 95% water and 5% alkali solution (potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide). The vessel is heated to around 300–320°F (150–160°C) under gentle pressure to keep the water from boiling.
Over approximately 18–20 hours, the combination of warm water, alkali, and gentle circulation breaks down soft tissue at the molecular level — the same process that occurs naturally in soil over years, but controlled and accelerated. At the end of the cycle, what remains is clean bone, which is dried and processed into a fine, sand-like ash — the same end product as flame cremation.
The liquid that's drained from the vessel is sterile, containing amino acids, salts, and other natural organic molecules. It's disposed of through regulated wastewater systems.
For a more detailed walkthrough of both cremation methods, see our [guide to how pet cremation works].
How It Compares to Flame Cremation
The end result — processed bone ash returned to you in an urn — is the same with both methods. The differences are in the process itself:
Time. Flame cremation takes 30 minutes to 3 hours depending on your pet's size. Aquamation takes about 18–20 hours. However, the total turnaround to receive ashes is similar for both (typically 1–2 weeks), because most of the wait is scheduling and logistics, not the cremation cycle itself.
Energy and emissions. Aquamation uses approximately 90% less energy than flame cremation and produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions, no smoke, and no fossil fuel combustion. Flame cremation requires natural gas burners at 1,400–1,800°F and produces CO₂, water vapour, and trace pollutants managed by afterburners and exhaust systems.
Appearance of ashes. Aquamation ashes tend to be slightly lighter in colour — closer to white — because there's no burning. Flame cremation ashes are typically pale grey to off-white. Both have a similar fine, sand-like texture.
Ash chemistry. Both are primarily calcium phosphate (bone mineral). Aquamation ashes tend to have a more neutral pH than flame cremation ashes, which can make them slightly gentler on soil if you're planning to scatter in a garden — though concentrated ashes from either method can still harm plants. For more on this, see our [guide to what to do with pet ashes].
Cost. In the GTHA, aquamation is generally priced similarly to or slightly above flame cremation for equivalent service levels.
Availability. Aquamation is offered by fewer GTHA providers than flame cremation. Most vet clinics and humane societies use flame cremation (typically through Gateway Pet Memorial). Aquamation is available through standalone providers like Tails Farewell, Heart With Wings, Pet Aquamation (Whitby), Faithful Pet Memorial (Toronto), and Tillwell (Ontario-wide).
Aquamation Pricing in the GTHA
Tails Farewell (Markham & Downtown Toronto)
Tails Farewell is a pet funeral home offering aquamation with tiered packages. Prices vary by weight — select a weight range on their site for exact numbers.
- Tiny Treasures Tribute (birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, etc.): starting from $149
- Communal aquamation (no ashes returned): starting from $249
- Private aquamation — Classic urn: starting from $399
- Enhanced private package (adds paw print, private farewell): starting from $549
- Forever Love Farewell (top-tier, includes custom portrait and optional funeral): starting from $999
Heart With Wings Aquamation (Barrie)
Based just north of the GTHA. Pricing includes a handmade ceramic urn or bamboo scatter tube for private.
| Weight | Private | Communal |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5 lb | $250 | $150 |
| 6–25 lb | $365 | $190 |
| 26–50 lb | $415 | $240 |
| 51–75 lb | $465 | $290 |
| 76–100 lb | $515 | $340 |
| 101+ lb | $565–$655 | $360–$430 |
Pickup runs $105–$315 depending on distance from Barrie.
Pet Aquamation (Whitby — Serves Southern Ontario)
| Weight | Communal |
|---|---|
| Pocket pets | $75 |
| 1–20 lb | $125 |
| 21–50 lb | $175 |
| 51–100 lb | $200 |
| 101+ lb | $225 |
Private/partitioned pricing available by phone. Urns ($125), jewelry ($50), and paw prints ($25–$45) are separate.
Tillwell (Ontario-Wide)
Simple flat pricing:
- Communal aquamation (no ashes returned): $125 + tax
- Individual aquamation (ashes returned): $225 + tax
Serves all of Ontario including the GTA, with transport and online arrangements.
Faithful Pet Memorial / Midtown Mobile Vet (Toronto)
Faithful Pet Memorial at 181 Weston Rd is marketed as Toronto's first water-based pet crematorium. Exact pricing isn't fully published — families are asked to call for quotes. Social media references suggest pricing starts around $465 for private aquamation. They offer viewing rooms and rush service (ashes back within 48 business hours) as premium add-ons.
How Aquamation Pricing Compares to Flame Cremation
For a typical cat or small dog in the GTHA:
| Method | Communal | Private |
|---|---|---|
| Flame cremation (Gateway/shelter) | $75–$105 | $315–$350 |
| Flame cremation (In Good Hands) | $179 | $429 |
| Flame cremation (Florence) | $199 | $449 |
| Aquamation (Pet Aquamation/Tillwell) | $75–$125 | $225 |
| Aquamation (Heart With Wings) | $150–$190 | $250–$365 |
| Aquamation (Tails Farewell) | from $249 | from $399 |
The pricing overlap is significant. Aquamation isn't consistently more or less expensive than flame — it depends on the provider and what's included. The most affordable private cremation option in the GTHA is actually aquamation (Tillwell at $225), while the most expensive is also aquamation (Tails Farewell's top-tier package at $999).
Why People Choose Aquamation
Environmental values. For families who prioritize sustainability, aquamation's lower energy use and lack of direct emissions align with their values. This is the most commonly cited reason.
Emotional comfort. Some families find the idea of warm water more comforting than flame. Aquamation providers often market the process as "gentle" and "natural," which resonates with people who find the idea of fire distressing.
Lighter ashes. Aquamation ashes tend to be whiter and finer, which some families prefer aesthetically.
Memorial experience. Several GTHA aquamation providers (Tails Farewell, Faithful Pet Memorial) offer viewing rooms, private farewells, and ceremony options that create a more funeral-like experience — something less commonly available through standard flame cremation providers.
Why People Choose Flame Cremation
Availability. Far more providers offer flame cremation in the GTHA. If you want the widest choice of providers and the ability to compare pricing, flame cremation gives you more options.
Speed. The cremation cycle itself is faster (1–3 hours vs. 18–20 hours), though total turnaround to receive ashes is typically similar.
Familiarity. Most people who've arranged pet cremation before have used flame cremation. It's the default at vet clinics and humane societies across the GTHA.
Simplicity. If the environmental difference isn't a deciding factor for you, flame cremation and aquamation produce the same end result — ashes in an urn. The choice may simply come down to which provider you prefer.
A Note From Florence
Florence offers flame cremation (communal and true private), not aquamation. Our cremation partner uses traditional flame cremation equipment.
We've included this guide because we believe you deserve clear information about all of your options — including the ones we don't offer. If aquamation's environmental profile or the availability of viewing rooms matters to you, the providers listed above are good places to start.
If what matters most to you is true private cremation with chain-of-custody tracking, all-inclusive pricing, and communication throughout the process, that's what we're built for — regardless of the cremation method. See our [pricing page] or [arrange cremation online].
Frequently Asked Questions
Is aquamation the same as water cremation? Yes. Aquamation, water cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis are all names for the same process — using warm water and alkali to break down soft tissue, leaving bone that's processed into ashes.
Do you get ashes back from aquamation? With private aquamation, yes — ashes are returned to you in an urn, just like flame cremation. With communal aquamation, no — ashes are scattered and not returned individually.
Is aquamation more environmentally friendly than flame cremation? Yes. Aquamation uses approximately 90% less energy, produces no direct emissions, and doesn't burn fossil fuels. The liquid byproduct is sterile and disposed of through wastewater systems.
Do aquamation ashes look different from flame cremation ashes? Slightly. Aquamation ashes tend to be lighter in colour — closer to white — and sometimes finer in texture. Flame cremation ashes are typically pale grey to off-white. Both are safe to handle and store.
Is aquamation legal in Ontario? Yes, for companion animals. Several Ontario providers currently offer pet aquamation. Equine aquamation is a different situation — it's not currently licensable under Ontario's deadstock regulation.
Does Florence offer aquamation? Yes. Florence offers both flame cremation and aquamation.
