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How
to Create an Emergency Toilet
In
extreme emergencies, sewage systems may not be functioning. During these times
it may be necessary to create a temporary, emergency toilet for safely
collecting and handling human waste until normal sewage systems can be restored.
When
creating an emergency toilet, it is always important to:
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Locate the toilet away
from food preparation or eating areas. |
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Locate latrines and
portable toilets at least 100 feet away from surface water bodies such as
lakes, rivers, streams, and at least 100 feet downhill or away from any
drinking water source (well or spring), home, apartment, or campsite.
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Provide a place next to
the emergency toilet to wash hands that offers soap, running water, and paper
towels. |
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Keep doors and covers
closed when the toilet is not in use to keep out insects and animals and to
prevent injury. |
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Always supervise small
children when they are using the emergency toilet. |
What are
portable toilets?
Portable
toilets (sani-cans, port-o-lets, and so on) are self contained structures
brought to a site to provide sanitary facilities. They are often used at many
events where large numbers of people congregate. At present, there are no
specific health regulations on the use of portable toilets; however the
following are presented as guidelines for their use:
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Portable toilets must be
regularly pumped out by a licensed contractor to avoid health hazards.
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Pumping contractors are
licensed by the Environmental Health Division of Public Health
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What is a
Latrine?
A
latrine is hole that is dug in the ground to collect human waste. They are
usually built with a seat and cover.
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Latrines are not
appropriate in urban locations. |
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The hole for a latrine
must be at least 3 feet deep. Keep the bottom of the hole at least 1 foot
above hard pan or the water table. Sites which can not be dug deep enough and
still provide a 1 foot separation to a water table or hard pan are not
appropriate sites for a latrine. |
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After each use, throw
dirt, lime, mulch, or ash in the latrine to minimize odors and to keep flies,
mosquitoes, and rodents away. |
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Cover the latrine between
use with plywood, or another material. |
How do I
convert a flush toilet or make an emergency toilet from a pail?
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1. |
Line the
inside of a toilet bowl, 5 gallon pail, or another appropriately sized waste
container with two heavy-duty plastic garbage bags. |
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2. |
Place
kitty litter, fireplace ashes, or sawdust into the bottom of the bags. |
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3. |
At the
end of each day, the bagged waste should be securely tied and removed to a
protected location such as a garage, basement, outbuilding, and so on, until
a safe disposal option is available. |
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4. |
Residents may dispose of the waste in a properly functioning public sewer,
or septic system, or they may bury the waste on their own property. |
Note:
During a declared emergency, these bags might be able to be included with
the regular garbage - only if a public announcement has been made that
allows this method of disposal.
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