Something Most Don't Talk About But We All Do....

Sanitation after TSHTF and we are off the grid with no power and no water. How do you get rid of the poo?

Well for a time you will still be able to use the toilet in your house. Even with no water coming into your house you can use your grey water to flush your toilet, as long as your sewer or septic tank still works. But I am sure that this will not be the way you would want to do this for the long term, because the grey water can be used for so many other things. Like watering the garden or filtering to use for washing water.

The 5 gallon bucket with a plastic liner and saw dust works well. I have used this for years when camping. I have the toilet seat that fits onto a 5 gallon bucket so my wife is happy, but you can use just the bucket without the seat. What I do is put a trash bag in the 5 gallon bucket and then put a small amount of saw dust in the bottom. I buy the cheap powdered laundry soap from the dollar store and mix it with baking soda(65-75% soap to 35-25% baking soda) After someone uses the potty you pour saw dust in the bucket and then a cup of mix to keep the smell at bay. It works well. I use this set up with a 4'X4' toilet tent. I have a floor that I made out of wood that is 1 1/2" thick and has a small cut out that lets the 5 gallon bucket set into it about 3/4" so the bucket will not move. This whole set up takes me about 15-20 min to set up at camp and I empty it 2-3 time a day. When camping I put in the dumpster, but in a SHTF event I would dig a big hole and cover it.

You can use a Slit Trench, this is a hole in the ground that is about a foot wide and as long as you want it to be and about two feet deep. What you do is dig the trench and after you go potty you cover you stool with the dirt from the hole and you would want to have a can or box of your wood ash to put on before you cover with the dirt. This set out works well for a group of people. You can even use a standard toilet seat and make a wood jig that goes over the trench so it makes is a little bit easier for kids and the Lady's of your group.

The Cat Hole is about the same just a single hole and you cover your stool with ash and dirt as you go, and you can use a jig for this to with the toilet seat to make it easier for you to go.

Items you can use for your outdoor toilet are #10 cans with the plastic lid just like the big cans of coffee come in, use this to hold your toilet paper. And use the same size can to hold your wood fire ash with a small scoop in it. Remember to make your outdoor bathroom as useful as possible and as user friendly as you can.

Just remember that you will have to have a way to go to the bathroom, we all do it. So make plans now to make it as easy on you as you can. If you have a retreat on some land set aside some time and build an outhouse or two. With two you can use one and keep the other as a back up till you need it.

And remember not to do this right outside your door. Keep your outdoor toilet away from your home or tent. And don't do any of this near your drinking water, like don't dig a outhouse ten feet from you well where you get your water. Plan to live and live to plan. Stand strong and fight for what is yours.