Pandemic Prep…Human Waste
I know this is not a glamorous subject and probably one that none of us want to deal with but the fact remains that during an emergency and in particular, today, during a pandemic, there is a real possibility community waste facilities will be impacted as workers are not able to report for work. Short of building an outhouse there are still a few things you can do.
Every family should have a chemical potty or a port-a-potty on hand. For a port-a-potty you will need a five gallon bucket (best purchased at a home improvement store), a potty seat, plastic bags to line the bucket, and chemicals to break down the waste and improve the smell. You will want an area outside of your home to place your potty which is private and protected from animals. I like biohazard bags to line the unit as it is easy for a child to understand that they are not to touch those bright red bags. When garbage collection begins again these can also be easily disposed of as hazardous materials. You will also want to have a second bucket or other container to keep toilet paper, feminine hygiene products and hand sanitizer. This container should have a secure lid to protect the contents from the weather and animals. Also be sure you have a flashlight or glow sticks available for use during night time hours.
If you are caught unprepared you can bury waste in your yard but you need to be very careful. The following is a simple explanation taken from the Boy Scouts of America:
Perhaps the most widely accepted method of backcountry human waste disposal is the cathole. The advantages are:
1. They are easy to dig in most areas.
2. They are easy to disguise after use.
3. They are private.
4. They disperse the waste rather than concentrate it to enhance decomposition. It is usually easy to select a remote location where you can be certain no one is going to casually encounter the cathole.
Selecting a Cathole Site
1. Select a cathole site far from water sources; 200 feet (approximately 80 adult paces) is the recommended minimum range.
2. Select an inconspicuous site untraveled by people. Examples of cathole sites include thick undergrowth, near downed timber, or on gentle hillsides.
3. If camping with a group or if camping in the same place for more than one night, disperse the catholes over a wide area; don’t go to the same place twice.
4. Try to find a site with deep organic soil. This organic material contains organisms that will help decompose the feces. Organic soil is usually dark and rich in color. The desert does not have as much organic soil as a forested area.
Digging a Cathole
1. A small garden trowel is the perfect tool for digging a cathole.
2. Dig the hole 6 to 8 inches deep (about the length of the trowel blade) and 4 to 6 inches in diameter. In a hot desert, human waste does not biodegrade easily because there is little organic soil to help break it down. In the desert, the cathole should be only 4 to 6 inches deep. This will allow the heat and sun to hasten the decay process.
3. When finished, fill the cathole with the original dirt and disguise it with native materials.
A Note About Urine
Urine does not hurt plants and soil directly. Sometimes, the salt in urine may attract wildlife. Animals can defoliate plants and dig up soil to get at the salts. It is best to urinate on rocks and in places that will not attract wildlife.
I have found this same method approved by goverment and the military but the Boy Scouts had the best, simple, directions.
Never bury the plastic bags from your port-a-potty. These will not degrade and will create a huge problem in the future. If a crisis lasts too long and your port-a-potty fills you will need to bury the waste. The best method is to place it in newspaper, roll the paper and then bury. Be sure to wear gloves and disinfect yourself and your clothing when you are finished. Place a new liner in the potty. Fold the old bag and place it in the bottom of your potty. Eventually things will return to normal and you will be able to dispose of this in a safe manner.
You will want to explain the use of a port-a-potty to your family and be sure they understand that nothing goes in the potty except human waste and TP. Also instruct them to use as little toilet paper as possible to get the job done and stress the importance of sanitizing their hands when they are finished. Practice now to reduce the stress during a crisis time. If kids know ahead of time what to expect it becomes an adveture rather than a frieghtening experience.
I warned you this was not a pleasant topic but if we avoid those things which are unpleasant to think about we will not be Totally Ready.
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I seriously hope I never need this information, but thank you nonetheless.
Important things to know since the lack of proper sanitation can cause the spread of disease and even death! Thank you for sharing!
I recently learned how to make a portable Sanitation Kit. You can read about it on a post I made at: http://preparednessnibblesandbits.blogspot.com/2009/01/sanitation-kit.html
Carolyn, thank you again for the work you do with this blog. Since last February I have been researching information on a pandemic. Our local newspaper gave the web address of http://fluwikie.com, so I have read much of the information on that site. A number of weeks ago I came across information it had on community preparedness and sewage sanitation in particular. I told my husband that even he would be interested in the videos that I found–and he was. Sewage treatment was one of the subjects he studied in college. Some people in the reading audience of totallyready would probably be in a position to take care of their human waste in the way described in these videos. If you were to watch all of them, and I would recommend watching all of them so that you know exactly what is involved, it would take 66 minutes and 53 seconds of just watching time. It would probably be easier to break the watching time into a few sessions–and young children would be bored.
Here is the link:
http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/humanure.html
One thing you don’t want to happen to human waste is for animals to break into plastic bags and spread it all over. After all, you are trying to contain a deadly virus. You also do not want to contaminate your water table with human waste by having it filter down into a clean water supply. Even though this subject is not the most pleasant to consider, not planning for it and leaving it up to chance would be even worse. It is feasible in a pandemic that the dog catcher may not be available. There could be dog packs, and other animals loose whose owners have died, or who are let go because the owners no longer have food for them. So plan carefully what you will do with bags of human waste.
I’m going to have to stop reading this at work. I tend to go from site to site reading all the wonderful information. K P’s site took me to Be Ready Utah which has a load of information about preparedness, especially good information about disposing of human waste. Not a fun topic, but I’m a healthcare worker and know how important it is to properly dispose of human waste and protect your family from bacterial infections such as E. coli that is common and easily contracted. Great work!
I just found your blog this morning. I am so excited about the information you are presenting here. I am just begining my emergency preparedness and I couldn’t do it without people like you! Thanks so much!
I hope to never have to use this information. But I will prepare our family so we will be ready…
Can you tell us where we would find biohazard bags?