What Is Aquamation?
About Alkaline Hydrolysis
A Water-Based Cremation
Aquamation, or alkaline hydrolysis, is a process in which natural decomposition is accelerated by combining water, alkaline chemicals and heat. The water is gently agitated to mimic a slow flowing stream. Once the process is complete, we are left with the bones which are then processed to ash. It is a similar process to a natural burial, but the process is sped up through the use of potassium hydroxide and water.
The remaining water from the process is completely sterile which contains the basic building blocks of matter, including amino acids, sugars, and salts. This water is safely disposed of through the wastewater treatment system or can even be used to provide gardens and nurseries with nutrient rich water.
Bad Environmental Impacts Of Traditional Pet Cremation
There are significant impacts to the environment with both traditional flame-based cremation as well as typical in-ground burials.
With flame-based cremations, excessive heat, resources, and fossil fuels need to be consumed in order to reach temperatures over 1500 degrees. Flame-based cremation also releases harmful gases into our atmosphere.
The other environmental impact of traditional burials is land use. Oftentimes, embalming fluids are used which can cause soil pollution in the surrounding environment.
Aquamation is the safest, most environmentally friendly after-life care option.
A “Green” Option
Aquamation is the most eco-friendly way to celebrate your pet's after-life. Our process produces 90% less carbon emissions and requires no burning of fossil fuels in comparison to a flame-based cremation. A single household will use more water in a single day than the aquamation process, continuing the eco-friendly trend.
The final remains and ashes are completely sterilized, making them free of any diseases or pathogens. Not to mention, you will receive up to 20% more ash from our process than with a traditional flame-based pet cremation. The effluent, or water that is left after the process, is nutrient rich as well, which can be processed by local waste water processing plants. If you have any questions, please reach out or fill out a contact form to get in touch today!
How Does Aquamation Work?
Our Process Explained...
We have invested in the best available equipment to operate a water-based pet crematory. Our PET-400 system from Bio-Response is the industry leader for processing pet remains and returning more ash to the owner than any other pet cremation option available today. The system is extremely efficient, requiring less water than an average household in a single day.
Our system has individualized compartments, allowing us to offer private cremations with a guarantee that you will only get the ashes back from your specific pet. The stainless-steel compartments give your pet their own private space without the possibility of mixing with another pet. We also utilize a special stainless steel tag that follows your pet throughout the entire process. The tag will have your pet's serial number and will be checked for accuracy each step of the way.
The unique design of our water-based cremation system allows us to be able to process the largest dogs and the smallest pets alike. No animal is too small for us to process!
A Customized Cremation
We will coordinate a time and location that is convenient for you. We can schedule an appointment for a drop off at our facility or we can pick up your pet from any location. This may be your home or a local veterinarian's office. We want to make the process as easy as possible for you, as we know how difficult this time can be.
We pride ourselves on having excellent communication during the entire process. We will provide updates so you know what is going on with your pet the entire time. Due to the water-based cremation approach, it may take up to 1 week to receive your ashes back. This includes processing time as well as allowing enough time for the bones to completely dry.
We will gladly go over all of your options for keepsakes and mementos to remember your pet. These include urns, vials for fur clippings, paw/nose prints and much more. However we can help you celebrate your pet's life, we want to help. Learn more about our pricing and offerings here.
Meet The Owner
Christos Philippou
I have a Great Dane named Tula. She's ten and a half, which is well past what most Great Danes are expected to live, and every day with her feels like a gift I don't take for granted. I think about what it would mean to have to say goodbye to her, and how much it would matter to me that whoever cared for her treated her the way I would.
I've spent seven years in the pet industry, first running Delaware K9 Academy, a dog training company I built from the ground up. Working closely with pets and their owners gave me a deep appreciation for the bond people have with their animals, and a clear sense of what families deserve when they need help most. That's what led me to aquamation. When I came across the process, I saw something that felt right. A gentler, more natural way to care for a pet after they've passed, without the environmental impact of flame cremation. I felt strongly that families here deserved a better option.
My mission with Delaware Pet Aquamation is to change what pet aftercare looks like in this state. I want to give every family access to a process that honors their pet and reflects their values, at a price that doesn't make that choice out of reach.
At Delaware Pet Aquamation, I handle everything myself. Every call, every pickup, every step of the process. That's a deliberate choice. When a family trusts me with their pet, I want them to know exactly who is responsible. I'm available around the clock, because grief doesn't keep business hours. If you call at midnight, I answer. If you need time to say goodbye, take it. There is no rush here.
I served in the U.S. Army National Guard for eight years, and what I carried out of that experience was a deep sense of accountability. I will show up, follow through, and take the job seriously no matter the circumstances. I bring that same commitment to every family I work with.
