Explainer
Water cremation (resomation) in the UK: legal status, cost and availability
By Peter Langdon FCA · Last updated 9 June 2026
Quick answer
Water cremation — also called alkaline hydrolysis or resomation — became legal in Scotland on 2 March 2026, the first UK nation to permit it. It is not yet lawful in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and no UK facilities are operating yet. It uses water and an alkali instead of flame, with a far lower carbon footprint than a conventional cremation (around 320kg of CO₂). No UK price exists yet; for comparison the median UK direct flame cremation costs £1,595 (3,018 published CMA price lists).
What water cremation is
Water cremation, known technically as alkaline hydrolysis and commercially as resomation or aquamation, breaks the body down using water and an alkali rather than flame. The body is placed in a pressurised vessel containing a solution that is roughly 95% water and 5% alkali — typically potassium hydroxide — and gently heated. What remains is bone, which is processed into a fine ash and returned to the family, just as ashes are returned after a flame cremation.
The legal position across the UK
The picture differs by nation, and this is the single most common point of confusion:
- Scotland: legal since 2 March 2026, when the relevant regulations came into force — the first UK nation to permit water cremation.
- England and Wales: not yet lawful. The Law Commission is reviewing the legal framework for new funerary methods, with a draft Bill expected during 2026.
- Northern Ireland: not currently permitted.
Availability: legal does not yet mean offered
Even in Scotland, no water cremation has taken place yet. Before a provider can offer the service it must secure planning permission for a facility, obtain consent from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to discharge the waste water, and meet the standards set out in the new regulations. The Scottish Government has estimated this will take six to nine months, with the first procedures expected during 2026.
The environmental case
The main argument for water cremation is environmental. A conventional flame cremation produces roughly 320kg of CO₂; water cremation is reported to emit several times less, and it avoids the mercury emissions associated with flame cremation. For families weighing the environmental impact of their choices, this is the principal draw.
What it is likely to cost
There is no established UK price, because no facilities are operating. For comparison, the median UK direct (flame) cremation currently costs £1,595, drawn live from 3,018 published CMA Standardised Price Lists. In countries where water cremation is already available it is typically priced at a similar level to, or slightly above, a flame cremation. As UK providers begin to offer the service we will publish their prices on this page, sourced and dated like every other figure on the Index.
Your options today
Until water cremation is available, the lower-impact, lower-cost option already on the market is a direct cremation, which avoids a procession and a large service. You can also compare cremation versus burial on cost and other factors.
Frequently asked questions
Is water cremation legal in the UK?
Partly. Scotland became the first UK nation to legalise water cremation when its regulations came into force on 2 March 2026. It is not yet lawful in England, Wales or Northern Ireland; in England and Wales the Law Commission is reviewing the legal framework for new funerary methods, with a draft Bill expected during 2026.
What is water cremation?
Water cremation, also called alkaline hydrolysis, resomation or aquamation, uses water and an alkali to break the body down rather than flame. The body is placed in a vessel with a solution that is roughly 95% water and 5% alkali (typically potassium hydroxide) and gently heated. The process leaves bone, which is processed into ash and returned to the family, in the same way ashes are returned after a flame cremation.
Where can I get a water cremation in the UK?
As of June 2026, nowhere yet. Although Scotland legalised the practice in March 2026, no facilities are operational there; providers must first secure planning permission, obtain consent from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to discharge the waste water, and meet the new regulatory standards. The Scottish Government has estimated this will take six to nine months, with the first procedures expected in 2026.
Is water cremation better for the environment than flame cremation?
Water cremation has a markedly lower carbon footprint. A flame cremation produces roughly 320kg of CO2; water cremation is reported to emit several times less. It also avoids the mercury emissions associated with flame cremation. These are the principal reasons it is promoted as an eco-friendly alternative.
How much does water cremation cost in the UK?
No UK price is established yet, because no facilities are operating. For comparison, the median UK direct (flame) cremation costs £1,595 based on 3018 published CMA Standardised Price Lists. In countries where water cremation is already offered it is typically priced at a similar level to, or slightly above, a flame cremation. We will publish UK water-cremation prices on this page once providers begin offering it.
Compare cremation prices today
While water cremation is not yet available, you can compare published direct and attended cremation prices from funeral directors across the UK.
Legal status reflects the Scottish regulations in force from 2 March 2026 and the Law Commission’s ongoing review for England and Wales, as reported in June 2026; this is general information, not legal advice. Comparison price figures are from published CMA Standardised Price Lists, most recent capture 9 November 2026.