Emergency Toilet and Sanitation: What to Do When You Can't Flush
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When disaster strikes, most people think about food and water first.
But there's another basic need that can become a serious problem surprisingly quickly:
What happens when you can't use your toilet?
An earthquake can damage water and sewer lines. A prolonged power outage can shut down pumps. A water main break can leave you without running water. Flooding can contaminate wastewater systems. And if your home has no running water, flushing a toilet can quickly become impossible.
Having an emergency toilet and sanitation plan is one of those preparedness tasks that isn't particularly exciting—but you'll be very glad you did it if you ever need it.
The good news is that you don't need an expensive portable toilet to prepare. With a few inexpensive supplies and a little knowledge, most households can create a workable emergency sanitation system.
Why Toilets Can Stop Working During an Emergency
Your toilet depends on more than the porcelain bowl in your bathroom.
A conventional toilet requires water to flush, and your home's wastewater also has to go somewhere.
Depending on your home's plumbing and the type of emergency, your toilet may become unusable because:
- Your municipal water supply is interrupted.
- Water pressure is too low.
- A water line is damaged.
- Sewer lines are damaged.
- A septic system is flooded or damaged.
- Electrical pumps aren't working.
- Your home or neighborhood has been evacuated.
- Authorities issue instructions not to use the sewer system.
After an earthquake, for example, underground water and sewer lines can be damaged even when the plumbing inside your house appears fine.
If you don't know whether your sewer system is functioning, don't assume that flushing is safe simply because the toilet still flushes.
Follow instructions from local authorities and your water or wastewater utility.
First: Don't Automatically Flush
If the water is off, you obviously won't have unlimited water available for flushing.
But even if you have water stored, that doesn't necessarily mean you should use it to flush.
If sewer lines are damaged or wastewater systems are overwhelmed, flushing can potentially cause sewage to back up into buildings or contribute to problems in the wastewater system.
If authorities tell you not to flush, don't flush.
This is one reason emergency sanitation deserves its own place in your preparedness plan.
The Simplest Emergency Toilet: A Bucket Toilet
For many households, the simplest emergency toilet is a sturdy bucket fitted with a toilet seat.
A basic setup can consist of:
- A sturdy 5-gallon bucket
- A toilet-seat attachment designed for the bucket
- Heavy-duty plastic bags or other appropriate liners
- Absorbent material
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer or a handwashing setup
- Disinfecting/cleaning supplies
A purpose-built emergency toilet seat can make the bucket substantially more comfortable and stable than simply sitting on the rim. Amazon sells 5 gallon bucket toilet seats.
You can purchase a purpose-built emergency toilet, but you can also assemble a basic system from commonly available supplies.
Test your setup before an emergency.
You don't want your first experience with your emergency toilet to happen when four people in your family urgently need to use it.
How to Set Up a Bucket Toilet
If you're using a bucket system, set it up somewhere private and stable.
A bathroom may be the obvious choice, but it isn't necessarily the only option.
Depending on the situation, you may need to designate another location that provides:
- Privacy
- Ventilation
- A stable floor
- Easy access
- Separation from food preparation
- A place to wash or sanitize hands
Place a heavy-duty liner inside the bucket according to the manufacturer's or local emergency-management guidance.
Add absorbent material as appropriate.
After use, close or secure the waste container according to your local guidance and the specific system you're using.
The exact method for handling and disposing of human waste can vary depending on your location, the emergency, and whether sewer or trash services are operating.
Don't assume that emergency waste can simply be put out with normal household garbage.
Check local instructions.
What Can You Use for Absorbent Material?
Absorbent material can help control moisture and odors in some emergency toilet systems.
Depending on the system and what is available, people may use materials such as:
- Kitty litter
- Sawdust
- Wood shavings
- Shredded paper
- Specialized toilet-waste absorbent products
- Other appropriate absorbent materials
The right material depends on the toilet system you're using.
Avoid treating every household material as automatically safe or appropriate for human-waste disposal.
If you're preparing a bucket toilet in advance, it's worth buying an absorbent product specifically intended for emergency sanitation or following the recommendations of your local emergency-management agency.
How Much Toilet Paper Should You Store?
Toilet paper is easy to overlook because it's an everyday household item.
But during a prolonged emergency, running out can become a major inconvenience.
Keep an additional supply with your emergency sanitation supplies.
You may also want:
- Wet wipes
- Paper towels
- Tissues
- Disposable gloves
- Trash bags
- Hand sanitizer
Remember that wipes should not automatically be flushed, even when your plumbing is working.
Dispose of them according to the product instructions and your local sanitation system.
Handwashing Is Just as Important as the Toilet
An emergency toilet solves only half of the sanitation problem.
You also need a way to keep hands clean.
Human waste can contain disease-causing microorganisms. Proper hand hygiene is one of the most important ways to reduce the spread of illness.
Ideally, keep soap and safe water available for handwashing.
If water is limited, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be useful when hands aren't visibly dirty.
Your emergency handwashing supplies might include:
- Soap
- Water
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels
- Washcloths
- Disposable gloves
- Cleaning supplies
Set up your handwashing station near the toilet but separate from food-preparation areas.
What If You Have No Running Water?
A loss of running water changes much more than your ability to flush.
You may also be unable to:
- Wash your hands normally
- Shower
- Bathe children
- Wash dishes
- Do laundry
- Clean surfaces
- Flush toilets
- Prepare certain foods
That's why sanitation should be considered when you're planning your emergency water supply.
Not all of your stored water needs to be drinking water.
You may want to designate some water specifically for non-drinking purposes, while following appropriate safety practices for how that water is used.
If you're working with a limited water supply, prioritize drinking water and essential hygiene.
Some items that you can stock up on that might help you save water include:
- Disposable paper products (cups, plates, bowls)
- Disposable utensils
- Hand sanitizer
- Disposable cooking dishes (ie tin foil dishes)
- Deodorant
- Dry Shampoo
What About Urine?
Urine generally requires a different approach from solid waste in an emergency sanitation situation.
In some emergency circumstances, a toilet system may be used for both urine and feces. Other systems are designed to separate them.
If you're using a bucket toilet, follow the instructions for the specific system you're using.
Don't assume that simply pouring urine outside, down a drain, or into a storm drain is an acceptable solution.
Local regulations and environmental conditions matter.
What About Septic Systems?
If your home uses a septic system, an emergency can create additional concerns.
Flooding, physical damage, or loss of electrical power to pumps can affect how the system operates.
If your septic system has been damaged or flooded, follow guidance from your local health department or septic professional.
Don't use a damaged septic system simply because the toilet still appears to work.
What About Sewage Backups?
A sewage backup is more than an unpleasant mess.
Sewage can contain harmful microorganisms and other contaminants.
If wastewater is backing up into your home:
- Stop using toilets, sinks, showers, and other drains if appropriate.
- Keep children and pets away from contaminated areas.
- Avoid direct contact with sewage.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment when dealing with contamination.
- Contact your utility, local authorities, or a qualified cleanup professional for guidance.
Don't attempt to clean extensive sewage contamination as though it were an ordinary household spill.
If electrical equipment or outlets have been exposed to water or sewage, avoid creating an electrical hazard and follow appropriate safety guidance.
You can have a sewage backflow valve installed to prevent sewage from backing up into your house. A local plumber should be able to help you with this. Once installed it should allow waste to flow out normally, but once it starts to back up the wrong way, the valve will shut and prevent sewage from backing up into the house. If the valve shuts you should not use your toilets or other drains as the waste will not be able to leave and it may overflow. The valve itself can be picked up from a hardware store, but it should be installed before an emergency happens.
You can purchase gripper plugs for your drains that will stop the sewage from coming in if it starts to, but you will need to get the exact size for every drain in your house and they must be installed directly into the pipe. So you would have to remove your toilet and other fixtures to install the plug. Only do this if sewage is backing up into your house.
How to Handle an Emergency Toilet When You Have Children
Children may not understand why they suddenly can't use the normal toilet.
Explain the emergency toilet before you need it.
If you have young children, consider:
- A child-sized potty that can use an appropriate liner
- Disposable gloves
- Extra wipes
- Extra clothing
- A familiar step stool if needed
- Extra privacy measures
Keep the explanation simple:
"If the water isn't working, this is our backup bathroom."
You don't need to frighten children with worst-case scenarios.
The goal is simply to make the backup system familiar.
Don't Forget Pets
Pets create their own sanitation needs.
Your emergency pet supplies may include:
Dogs
- Waste bags
- Puppy pads, if appropriate
- Paper towels
- Cleaning supplies
Cats
- Extra litter
- A litter box
- A scoop
- Waste bags
If you have birds, rabbits, chickens, or other animals, plan for their waste and bedding as well.
An emergency sanitation plan should account for every person and animal who depends on your household.
How Much Emergency Sanitation Should You Store?
The answer depends on your family size and how long you want to be prepared.
A family of four will obviously generate considerably more waste than a single adult.
Rather than trying to buy an arbitrary number of supplies, start by deciding:
How many people are in your household?
Then ask:
How many days are you preparing for?
A three-day emergency requires a different amount of sanitation supplies than a two-week disruption.
For a basic starting point, consider storing:
- Multiple heavy-duty waste bags
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Soap
- Disposable gloves
- Absorbent material
- Cleaning/disinfecting supplies
- A bucket toilet or other emergency toilet
- Extra supplies for children
- Pet waste supplies
If you have the space, store more than you think you'll need.
Where Should You Store Emergency Toilet Supplies?
You don't want your emergency toilet buried underneath your camping equipment in the back of the garage.
Keep your sanitation supplies somewhere accessible.
Good options might include:
- A dedicated emergency-supply closet
- A basement storage area
- A garage storage shelf
- A utility room
- A designated emergency tote
If an earthquake or other disaster could make your normal storage area inaccessible, consider keeping some supplies in another location.
Your emergency sanitation supplies should be easy to find when you're stressed, tired, and in a hurry.
What NOT to Do With Human Waste
When normal sanitation systems fail, people may be tempted to improvise.
Be careful.
Avoid:
- Dumping human waste into storm drains
- Leaving human waste where people or animals can come into contact with it
- Contaminating streams, rivers, or other water sources
- Burning waste unless specifically permitted and safe
- Flushing when authorities have told you not to
- Mixing household chemicals in an attempt to disinfect waste
- Assuming normal garbage collection will accept human waste
- Handling contaminated materials without appropriate protection
Follow instructions from your local health department, emergency-management agency, water utility, and wastewater provider.
Emergency sanitation isn't the time to guess.
Can You Bury or Burn Human Waste During an Emergency?
If your normal toilet and sewer system aren't available, you may wonder whether you can simply bury or burn human waste.
After all, burying human waste is something many people learn to do when camping, and burning waste may seem like an obvious solution when garbage and sanitation services aren't available.
The answer is: sometimes, but neither method is appropriate in every situation.
The right disposal method depends on where you are, how many people are producing waste, how long the emergency lasts, local regulations, soil and water conditions, and whether you are dealing with a wilderness campsite or a neighborhood full of homes.
Burying Human Waste
In a wilderness setting, burying a small amount of human feces may be an appropriate method of disposal when local land-management rules permit it.
The commonly recommended backcountry method is to dig a 6–8 inch deep cathole at least 200 feet (about 70 adult steps) from water, campsites, and trails, use the hole, and then completely cover it with the original soil. The exact requirements can vary by land manager and location, so always follow the rules for the area you're in.
This approach is designed for small amounts of human waste in appropriate outdoor environments.
It is not the same thing as creating a backyard latrine for an entire family.
Don't bury waste wherever you happen to be
Avoid burying human waste:
- Near wells
- Near streams, rivers, lakes, or springs
- In drainage areas
- In flood-prone areas
- Near gardens or food-growing areas
- Near playgrounds or other areas where children play
- Along trails or campsites
- Where animals are likely to dig it up
Human waste can contaminate water and spread disease.
If you're in a neighborhood after an earthquake or other disaster, don't assume that digging a hole in your yard is a safe solution.
Your local health department or emergency-management agency may have specific instructions for temporary sanitation.
What about toilet paper?
Follow local guidance for toilet paper disposal.
In some backcountry situations, toilet paper may be packed out rather than buried. Where burial is permitted, only appropriate amounts should be buried deeply and completely covered.
Never leave toilet paper scattered around the area.
When in doubt, pack it out.
What About Burning Human Waste?
Burning human waste might seem like an easy way to eliminate it, but it is generally not a good household emergency-sanitation solution.
Human waste contains moisture, so it doesn't burn particularly well. Burning feces, toilet paper, plastic bags, wipes, diapers, or other mixed waste can also produce smoke and potentially hazardous pollutants.
More importantly, an emergency is often exactly when you don't want an uncontrolled fire.
Wildfire risk, dry vegetation, wind, local fire restrictions, and damaged infrastructure can all make outdoor burning dangerous or illegal.
Never burn plastic waste
If you're using plastic liners or bags in an emergency toilet, do not burn them.
Burning plastic can release hazardous substances and should not be used as a method of household waste disposal.
The same applies to many disposable wipes, diapers, synthetic materials, and other products.
What if you have a controlled fire?
Even if you have a legal and safely controlled fire, that doesn't automatically make it appropriate for disposing of human waste.
In most household emergency situations, bagging and containment is a better option than burning.
So What Should You Do With Human Waste?
For a household dealing with a temporary loss of plumbing, the simplest solution is generally to contain the waste rather than trying to destroy it.
A properly designed emergency toilet system can collect waste in a liner or container until it can be disposed of according to local instructions.
This gives you time to determine what your local authorities recommend.
Your emergency sanitation plan should therefore include:
- A toilet or toilet-seat system
- Appropriate liners
- A way to contain waste
- Absorbent material
- Handwashing supplies
- Cleaning supplies
- A plan for temporary storage
- Knowledge of your local disposal instructions
If garbage collection continues during the emergency, your local health department or waste authority may provide instructions about how human waste should be packaged and disposed of.
If garbage collection has stopped, don't simply put bags of human waste on the curb and assume they'll be collected.
Contact your local health department, emergency-management agency, wastewater utility, or waste-disposal authority for instructions.
The Rule to Remember
Think of it this way:
In the wilderness:
A properly placed and properly dug cathole may be an appropriate option for a small amount of human waste when local regulations allow it.
At home:
Contain the waste and follow local emergency sanitation guidance.
Burning:
Generally avoid burning human waste or plastic waste. Fire restrictions, wildfire danger, smoke, and toxic emissions make this an especially poor household solution.
And regardless of the disposal method:
Keep human waste away from drinking water, food, animals, children, and areas where people live or gather.
If you're preparing for a disaster such as an earthquake, flood, or extended water outage, your goal isn't to find a way to make human waste disappear.
Your goal is to contain it safely until it can be disposed of properly.
What Should Be in an Emergency Toilet Kit?
Here's a simple shopping list to get you started.
Emergency Toilet
- Sturdy 5-gallon bucket or purpose-built emergency toilet
- Toilet seat attachment
- Appropriate waste liners
- Absorbent material
Personal Hygiene
- Toilet paper
- Wet wipes
- Hand soap
- Hand sanitizer
- Paper towels
- Washcloths
Cleanup
- Disposable gloves
- Heavy-duty waste bags
- Cleaning supplies
- Appropriate disinfectant
- Extra absorbent material
Family Needs
- Child-sized potty, if needed
- Extra diapers, if needed
- Puppy pads, if needed
- Pet waste bags
- Cat litter and litter box, if needed
Information
- Local emergency sanitation instructions
- Water utility contact information
- Wastewater/sewer utility contact information
- Local health department contact information
The 15-Minute Emergency Sanitation Test
Here's a simple preparedness exercise you can do with your family.
You don't have to actually use the emergency toilet.
Instead, gather your supplies and ask:
"If our water stopped working right now, what would we do?"
Can everyone find:
- The emergency toilet?
- The liners?
- Toilet paper?
- Hand sanitizer?
- Water?
- Cleaning supplies?
Then ask:
"What if we couldn't use our normal bathroom?"
Decide where your backup sanitation area would be.
This simple exercise can reveal gaps you wouldn't otherwise notice.
Emergency Sanitation Doesn't Have to Be Complicated
Preparedness isn't about buying the most expensive equipment.
An emergency toilet can be surprisingly simple.
A sturdy bucket, appropriate liner, toilet seat, absorbent material, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and a plan can go a long way toward helping a family manage a temporary sanitation problem.
The important part is to think through the problem before you're standing in your bathroom wondering what to do.
Water may stop.
Sewers may be damaged.
Power may fail.
Your normal bathroom may become unavailable.
You don't have to be afraid of those possibilities. You just need a backup plan.
Because when the toilet stops working, you're going to want one.
Other Articles of Interest
Hygiene Items You Should Never Forget in Your Emergency Supply
Emergency Water Storage and Preparation
Emergency Laundry and Water Reuse: How to Stay Clean Without Draining Your Stored Water