Sanitation

[oldsoldier]

I'm wondering if there are any thoughts on removing both garbage and human wastes from anywhere near living quarters to a better place. I should add not only removal but destruction of same and what methods. Ideally this would keep down any possible diseases as well as keeping critters and flying insects from habitats, people and food.

Thanks for any replies

[maric]

This is a great question. I have often wondered what would be the best way to handle wastes as well.. Any input would be appreciated!
The last thing I want it to die from our own wastes... thats just "narsty"... :)

[Snow Walker]

You make a very good point and I think it's something most people are overlooking and/or not thinking about.

There is also the issue of decaying bodies...human or animal.

I know in a camping situation you don't want to dispose of waste or go to the bathroom near your site or around water sources and it shouldn't be any different in any other situation. In the service we would burn our waste and create areas to urinate by digging a hole, placing rocks in the bottom and then burying a "piss" tube.

Lack of propper waste disposal and poor hygiene will cause even more issues probably killing numerous people either directly or indirectly.

Around here you still see old outhouses which are an option also.

Very good thread topic!

[Echo2]

We have planned for an outdoor privy....we have augers for the tractor....and have surveyed and planned for moving up to 15 times....as no to mess with springs and such.

General trash that may attract vermin and critters.....will either be burned or taken 1/3 mile to the sink hole on the low end of the property.

Showering will be done by water from the creek.....heated....used....then in to a grey water drain field.....washing clothes will be done much the same way.

[Echo2]

I wrote this on another forum....this is what I built...


"All aluminum frame....6 ft x 4ft footprint.....shed type roof 7 ft in front and 6 ft in back.....foam backed one side and aluminum backed other side plywood (R 6) for the sides and door....the roof will be of the translucent type for light.

I plan on having a 22" x 72" shelf for the seat....and 26" x 72" for the floor, with a height of 15" (the seat will bring it up to 16.5"). This will be broke from one piece of 1/4" aluminum for easy clean up...braced from underneath....and drains in the floor. I figure one 40 mm can to one side or the other for the paper...and a shelf for a wash station....be it sanitizer in winter or rainwater and soap in summer.

On the back....there will be a shute and bucket bin for lime.....so you can do it from the outside and not spill lime all over the seat.

The seat will have a gasket on it....and the underneath will be vented with a 4" pipe to a foot beyond the roof.

The feet will be off a old scaffold system for leveling purposes (set on cap block).....and will have 4...1"x 24" spikes holding it in place (with micro chain dogs).

We are thinking some of the small solar path lights for night time visits.....found some at a yard sale... 2 cases of 6...12 lights.....but they were old....and the light output was low....at best....the new ones are much brighter....and have a switch.

The hole is where I may need some advice.....we have a 24" auger for the tractor.....and you can dig about a 48" deep hole. "

[10eckid]

A quick way that we have used in the past at primitive camp sites is to dig a trench and leave the dirt piled beside it. A portable potty chair is used. After you are done, cover with the dirt you saved and scoot the chair down the trench.

[maric]

Good stuff, guys! although, 10eckid, a "potty chair" does not sound too primitive! lol.. Im kidding you, it really seems like it makes sense!

[Echo2]

there is a latrine seat here....

http://www.survivalmagazine.org/surv...t=handy+things

[10eckid]

Forgot to say that our "portable potty chair" was an apple crate with a few of the slats peeled off. After the first day. one of our buddies hiked out to the car and went to town and bought a soft toilet seat to go on top of the apple crate.

[oldsoldier]

I've been thinking for those folks in cold weather states an outhouse might be fine for cooler and colder months. When spring comes you can fill that in and start a new spot for it. Then however you are into daily maintenance like burning the "goodies".

The garbage issue might be handled by a long trench filled in by sections but I think that also should be burned before filled in. Got to deter the critters, insects and odor as best as possible.

Just a couple of thoughts on this tough topic. Each of us has a certain climate and adobe situation to deal with so one method might not fit all. It seems to me it will be a labor intensive area but I see it as so necessary to get what best works for each of us.

The more ideas the merrier so thanks for the posted ones and any future comments.

[TennOutdoors]

im a bit confused about Trash. what trash, bones can be used for a variety of things. fat can be rendered down for other uses later. vegatable matter goes in the compost pile. the metal in cans can be used for patching to siding and a host of other things if needed.

plastic containers can be reused, or the plastic can be remelted and used to make items you do need. Glass can be reused or reshaped too.

paper can be pulped and recycled into new paper.

human waste, out houses, which im not fond of but they work. set up a hand pump system to draw water from a cistern, creek or river to flush a toilet, that emptys into a waste dump site located far from the house or shelter. PVC is easy to work with, so you can run some good long lines with it. use a P trap in various places to stop vapors from returning to the outhouse or indoor bathroom.

of course ... you could set up a wood burning system to make charcoal, then set up a system of charcoal, and gravel layers to filter liquid waste thru.

[noneya]

Look into a book called "Humanure". It shows several setups that compost your waste. In the area of new Mexico we live in one alternative to septic is that you have an area marked of for 3 moves of your outhouse. this allows the composting of the matter in between moves. On the other hand a composting toilet unit might be considered for preparation. Besides the benefit of soil stabilization the urine is cooked off (solar or air dried) producing a low grade Potassium nitrate( the crystals seen around old outhouses) for use. A simple formula for some local farmers (family plot use) is 1quart urine to 20 quarts water for fertilizer for about 7gallons of fertilizer.