Emergency Toilets—Twin Bucket System – Linnton Neighborhood Association

By Nancy Hiser, Linnton NET

After a strong earthquake you may need to live without a working toilet for weeks or months. The “twin bucket system” was developed to deal with human waste—liquid PEE and solid or fecal POO—when there are no toilets and the sewage system has been disrupted. Running water may not be restored for 3-6 months after a sizable event; sewage systems will take time as well. Sanitation is a critical aspect of this that we will cover next month.

Supplies to prepare for a two-bucket toilet system:

• two 5-gallon buckets (adequate for 3-4 people); each labeled with PEE or POO; fitted lids

• toilet seats (snap on plastic ones + $7; screw on wood seats fit tighter; check camping stores or online resources)

• heavy duty 13-gallon plastic garbage bags, 9 mil or thicker

• dry carbon material such as bark chips/sawdust (not cedar), dry leaves, grass clippings, shredded paper, coconut fiber, no clay cat litter; need 1 gallon per day

• toilet tissue

• privacy shelter can made with a hula hoop and shower curtain

(handwashing supplies are critical and will be discussed in the next newsletter on sanitation)

A “toilet unit” consists of 2 buckets and a handwashing station and may be used for up to 20 people but, more than that, you risk infection.

NO MIX Principle: Liquid and solid waste must be collected, stored, and disposed of separately:

1. PEE: volume is 10x that of solid waste so buckets fill up fast and are heavy; have less smell than solid waste; are generally sterile but dangerous to fish and water supply so do not dispose of in storm drains; add 3 parts water to 1 part pee and put on lid to store for 6 months, then you can pour on lawn or ground (not suggested for garden with edibles)

2. POO: has lots of germs; has less volume, is more compact and lighter weight; bucket must be lined with heavy plastic; toilet paper goes here; completely cover each use with dry material to help dry the waste and reduce the odor; only fill ½ full (may take a couple of weeks for 3 people); to dispose of, double bag and store separated from other garbage, away from food and water, away from pets, flies, rats, etc.

3. Paper goes only in the POO bucket. If any solid waste is in the pee bucket, it must be treated like POO.

After each use, remove the seat if it is not tight fitting, and secure the lid.

Alternatives to the twin buckets :

• Pee in the woods, away from gardens; men can stand; women can use a female urination device.

• Dig a pit toilet or trench 2’ deep, saving the soil to cover.

• Single buckets that separate pee and poo are available

FREE: We can get PEE and POO labels for your buckets. Commercial reuse of buckets for food is prohibited so markets, restaurants, and bakeries often give them away. We also have some recycled 5-gallon buckets. They have paint residue on them but can be cleaned off for use.