Sanitation Bucket

Emergency Sanitation

Sanitation during emergencies, such as earthquakes and extreme weather, is crucial to prevent the spread of disease.

Toilet Instructions

Set up a restroom

If possible, set up two buckets—a pee bucket and a poo bucket—in your bathroom or a private place. Line the bucket with a plastic trash bag. Attach the toilet seat and lid.
Place a roll of toilet paper next to the bucket (Remove the cardboard tube for easy pulling from the center.)
Place the hand sanitizer near the bucket.

Reconstitute sawdust

Measure 3 cups absorbent pellets and 11⁄2 cups water into a Ziploc bag. Knead the bag with your hands until the pellets become sawdust. Place the bag of sawdust and the cup next to the bucket. (You can also use kitty litter.)

Sprinkle sawdust

Every time you use the poo bucket, sprinkle 1⁄2 c. sawdust over the waste. (The sawdust reduces odor and helps waste decompose after being buried.)

Sprinkle enzymes

Sprinkle about 1⁄4 tsp. enzymes over the waste once each day to help it decompose. (You can also use Rid-X.)

Close the lid

Be sure to keep the lid closed to reduce odor.

Disposal of Waste

Dig a hole

Choose a location to bury waste away from human activity and your garden. Dig a hole 3-feet deep.

Put on disposable gloves

Carry the bucket

Carry out the bag still in the bucket to avoid tears and spills. The bucket comes with enough bags to dispose of the waste every two days.

Dump the waste

Empty the bag in the hole. Don’t bury the waste inside the bag (unless you upgrade to biodegradable bags). Drop the bag in with the waste (not in with your regular trash).

Bury the waste

Cover with 1-2 inches dirt.
Cover the hole with a board and something to weigh it down.
Keep layering until the hole is full.
(You can add 2-3” hydrated lime before the last layer of dirt to help decomposition and to discourage animals from digging. Always wear a mask when using lime.)

City Sewer?

Prevent Backup!

If your house is connected to a city sewage system, it is essential that you make preparations to prevent backup of sewage and fumes. Backing up can occur because of flooding or when electricity or water services are disrupted for an extended period.

  1. You can hire a plumber to install a slice valve to shut off your entire house from the city sewage system. Although not the least expensive method, it is absolutely the most effect. The valve is not that expensive ($190 Fullport Backwater Valve, 4-Inch on Amazon). Installation for an existing house might cost as much as $1000-$2000. Click here for more information about a sewer backup valve
  2. You can purchase supplies to seal the drains in your house. This is a detailed process because every drain is a different size and requires different techniques to seal.

Identify the drains

Make a list of all the drains in your house, including non-tub shower drains, washing machine floor drains and drain hoses, and toilets. Remember that sinks and tubs have overflow drains.

Choose the method to seal each drain

Many floor drains can be sealed with twist plugs (also called “test plugs.”) Toilets are best sealed by removing the toilet and placing a plug in the drainpipe. Sinks can be sealed by plugging the drain and overflow, or by disconnecting the sink trap and placing a cap on the pipe. Tubs can also be sealed by plugging the drain and overflow, or by disconnecting the tub trap and capping the pipe.
A rubber ball can sometimes be used to block a drain if it is just the right size, and if you can add a weight to keep it from popping out.
For more information on plugging drains, read these instructions: Plugging Home Drains to Prevent Sewage Backup or view this video: Plugging Home Drains to Prevent Sewage Backup from North Dakota State University.

Sanitation Bucket Contents

Supplies for 4 people for 10 days:

  • 1 5-gallon bucket
  • 1 toilet seat and lid
  • 5 deodorant trash bags
  • 8 toilet paper rolls
  • 10 oz. hand sanitizer
  • 10 lbs. absorbent wood pellets (animal bedding)
  • 1 mixing bag
  • 1 measuring cup 2 enzyme packets
  • 25 latex gloves

Suggestions for Additional Toilet Supplies

  • Kitty litter
  • Rid-X
  • Shovel
  • Biodegradable trash bags Hydrated lime
  • Masks

Suggestions for Other Sanitation Supplies

  • Feminine sanitary supplies
  • Baby wipes
  • Disposable diapers
  • Cloth diapers, pins, plastic pants
  • Rubber gloves
  • Hand soap, personal hygiene supplies
  • Disinfectant spray, cleaning supplies
  • Laundry soap, bleach (Liquid bleach stores 6-12 months; powdered chlorine stores indefinitely.)
  • Paper products, utensils, aluminum foil

James Ebert’s Eagle Scout Project 2016