Emergency Toilet

The Farmer's Almanac is predicting a "catastrophic" winter.  Many people have septic systems that rely upon electricity, and if you lose the electricity, the waste isn't moved to the septic tank.

An emergency toilet can be created with a Luggable Loo toilet seat/cover (about $12 + shpg) that clips onto a standard 5-gallon bucket. Just put a couple of inches of sawdust, compost, stove pellets or organic cat litter* in the bottom, and just cover deposits with a scoop of more of the same.

You can even dispose of the waste in the CENTER of an ACTIVE compost pile.  If you don't have a compost pile, or don't feel comfortable adding it, call your local waste management company and ask what they would recommend.  Some transfer stations or county dumps don't like human waste in their facility, but what do they think disposable diapers contain?

For more information, read the FREE online book by Joseph Jenkins, The Humanure Handbook at http://jenkinspublishing.com/humanure_contents.html

* I am suggesting organic (non-clay) cat litter here because even wet, it's lighter than wet clay litter. Most of the organic ones are made into pellets from sawdust or recycled paper.

Sue

This applies to me! we have an aerobic system that relies on a pump. One of my main concerns is that it doesn't work when the electicity isn't on. Thanks for the heads up as we approach the icestorm season. I need to have our emergency back up toilet ready in a corner of the garage. we can easily lose power and be trapped in our home due to live downed powerlines. Not pretty without a toilet. Although dh picked up a line of generators and we might get one as a demo. woohoo!

I just discovered that some local camping/hunting stores carry the Luggable Loo clip-on toilet seats, although there are other brands, too.

Just one thing to remember:  always use a NEW 5-gallon bucket, not one that's been out in the sun and has soaked up a lot of UV.  This is certainly not the time to have a brittle bucket come apart under you!  YUCK!

Sue

That is the best advice I have recieved in a long time!