Fallout shelter latrine?

I'm in the design-as-you-build phase of my basement fallout shelter and it's occurred to me that having to stay inside 24 hours a day for more than a few days would start to get... unsanitary.

My shelter is big enough for two in a basement corner with both walls completely underground built out of hollow concrete blocks filled with garden timber and crushed mortar. It is strictly for fallout protection, not blast. I have a floor drain a few feet away that I plan on running a tube out for urine.

Feces however is the obvious problem. The best I can come up with is to eat minimally, avoid eating fajitas if the threat of fallout looms, and use a kiddie toilet. As space is a concern I think a bucket is out.

As this is a rather important department for improvised fallout shelters, which the majority of people would be making in a necessary event, by all means share any related ideas you may have.

So... how do you poo?

Originally posted by apc
avoid eating fajitas if the threat of fallout looms

quite possibly the funniest peice of survival-advice ever

Originally posted by apc
My shelter is big enough for two in a basement corner

the main question is,
will it be you in there solo
or
will there be someone else in there too ?
and, secondly, will that second person be a female ?

if it's only yourself in there
i would go with a 5 gallon pail ( with top )
throw a kitchen catcher bag in there
do your businss, spin the bag to make it airtight
and just leave it in the bottom of the pail
put the top on
and when it's that time again,
just put in another kitchen catcher bag and go
( maybe throw some spray air freshener in there after )
an arrangement like this should be good for 5+(?) days

and if you're going to be in this shelter with another person
maybe two pails

Female, but I plan on using hospital containers for recovery so that part is covered.

I like that bucket idea. Space and especially height is a concern in small shelters so maybe shorter than 5gal would work.

I've been wondering about this very thing myself... I was thinking that bean burritos should be on the same list as the fajitas.

Anywho back to poo, I was kinda planning on a couple of five gallon pails. Keep them lidded when not in use, and keep a couple of toilet seats handy so kids and us gals don't fall in.
A Thin layer of super duper scented extra clumping Situation X approved cat litter in the bottom of a thick trash can liner will do the trick. Works for my kitty, and his poops are just shy of nuclear anyways.

I plan to line the bucket with the trash liner, place the potty seat over the bucket, pour in some litter, and who knows maybe a copy of Reader's Digest or National Geographic for those lazy SitX days...
The second bucket also lined and that's where the um.. clumps will go.

The only thing I don't have an answer for yet is where should those clumps be disposed of to?
Tossing guinea pig pellets in the garden is one thing, but clumps of human fajita torpedos is entirely another.
Maybe I could do the chimp thing and fling poo at my noisy neighbors.

Originally posted by julesmac8
Maybe I could do the chimp thing and fling poo at my noisy neighbors.

any individual who exposes another person(s)
to a biochemical hazard shall be considered a terrorist


i just made that up,

but the way things are going right now
ya never know . . .

For the long unplanned stays in a fall out shelter the old 5 gallon bucket is probably about as worthy a "seat" as any. To help cut down on the odor and such keep a small bag or coffee can full of kitty litter near by to cover when done . Just my two cents

use a chemical toilet for the 1st day or so,

after that you should be on your "IV" sustinence routine,
which will cut down the requirement for bowel movement disposal,
for the next several days.

1 day solid food intake, followed by 5 days interveinous feeding
is a sound enough routine.
calories, exercise, waste removal, are problems which can be
solved with this creative approach to a confined space & life sustaining resources at a 'rationing' threashold.

~You read it here first~ s/StUdio

Sulfuric acid, or any type of super caustic chemicals MEP-K would work. Harmful fumes would be the concern here, moving air a must. The chem disposal would dissolve the matter into vapors, and liquid you can go on for a long time. I would build in a lower type tank beneath the shelter to collect waste, chem proof of course. Especially if your going to have a female.
DWT



[edit on 6-10-2007 by dntwastetime]

Wait just a cotton pickin minute.

We females can survive the odor of human waste just as well as you men.

But...since some of you are being considerate of our delicate noses please remember to throw in the deoderant and foot powder while you are planning your shelter.

Just kidding ya'll.

Dizzie

reply to post by dntwastetime

The ideal situation where permanent construction is involved, yes. However my main goal here is a semi-permanent shelter that does not permanently change the existing structure (basement). If one were to start cutting out concrete and whatnot, might as well make the whole shelter underground for blast protection.



reply to post by St Udio


Lets just assume no one is apt to tapping their arm for feeding purposes.

I suppose the diet to look in to is the same astronauts go on prior to EVA.

I forgot about chemical toilets though. One of these would be perfect!

Just as a "make do" solution. Five bags of kitty litter, used as a daily layer, per person, should be enough to take care of a month. If by that time you haven't found an alternative, you're in deep doo-doo.

Really, kitty litter will handle the smell for some time, and it is very absorbant.

Diaper genie

line bucket with a plastick bag to go in. When done remove plastick bag and install in the genie. close the lid twist and your done. you now have a sanitary sealed bag-o-poo waiting to be barried or burned when its safe, to leave the shelter.

[edit on 7-10-2007 by angryamerican]

Diaper genies are EVIL.

Evil Evil Evil Evil Evil Evil!

I'm sure it'd work great for these purposes, but still... EVIL!

reply to post by julesmac8



julesmac8 I've been wondering about this very thing myself... I was thinking that bean burritos should be on the same list as the fajitas. Anywho back to poo, I was kinda planning on a couple of five gallon pails. Keep them lidded when not in use, and keep a couple of toilet seats handy so kids and us gals don't fall in. A Thin layer of super duper scented extra clumping Situation X approved cat litter in the bottom of a thick trash can liner will do the trick. Works for my kitty and his poops are just shy of nuclear anyways.


Septic tanks.
Invented by the Romans. 2,000 years ago. The technology was lost in the Dark Ages. Today, septic tanks are usually made of fiberglass to avoid the problems associated with installing a 4,000 pound block of concrete.

You still need a hole in the ground. The tank needs to be 2 feet below ground. Gravity powered. The inlet pipe must be higher than the outlet pipe. The outlet pipe must be no more than 18 inches below ground level for lateral field disposal of water. If that is not possible, then a pump will suffice to move water from the tank up to the field. Sandy soil (loam) is a must, high clay content is a no-no. if you live in an area where an alluvial gravel strata is no more than 25-30 feet below ground level, you can use a pit or dry well dug down to the strata about 4 feet in diameter to dispose of the waste water.

Standard tanks are 1,000 gallon capacity divided into 3 compartments. The “front” 2 compartments hold “solids” in varying stages of digestion by bacteria found in out own guts. No need to buy Rid-X. The back compartment holds water. By placing the outlet pipe 3/4ths the distance up the rear wall and providing a shield, solids like paper will be blocked from the outlet pipe carrying waste water to the disposal facility.

The latest design in septic tanks adds a 4th compartment. A fan force circulates air in the solids found in compartment #2 to enhance digestion. The 4th compartment adds chlorine to waste water for purification. The manufacturers of these new tanks claim you can urinate in the inlet pipe and drink the water from the outlet pipe.

Hand operated pumps can substitute for electric power. How about an exercise bike with a generator attached? Exercise and sanitatize at the same time!

[edit on 10/7/2007 by donwhite]

I sware by them. I used one with both my kids and we still keep one plus extra genie bags in the basement just for the purpose that I explained. The drew back is the special bags. but like a true survivalist I am stocked up.

Just don't break one of those bags when it's been sealed for a few days. If Homeland Security still exists they'd probably order an air strike on you!

Originally posted by donwhite
How about an exercise bike with a generator attached? Exercise and sanitation at the same time!

Also good for providing power in general.

Originally posted by donwhite
How about an exercise bike with a generator attached? Exercise and sanitation at the same time!

There's already a product on the market that would be the ideal excercise/sanitation combination...ladies and gentlemen, I present the patented 'Clag-Gone'!





[edit on 7-10-2007 by citizen smith]

reply to post by citizen smith


Does the Clag-Gone Bike qualify as Tough Love?

Just my 2 cents as well. All here seem to be going for the expensive chemical/litter/bag route.

I would have thought the solution is rather simple, just dig a larger hole/recess for thr toilet, take in some sawdust and create a compost toilet. Would probably be easiest way IMO.

MR