Sanitation When the Water Stops (Urban)

Objective

Prevent illness during outages by handling waste, washing, and cleaning safely with limited water.

Toilet Options

• Two‑bag system: Liner bag + absorbent + tie; second bag sealed for disposal.
• Kitty litter or sawdust to control odor and moisture.
• Bucket toilet: Seat on a 5‑gal bucket; bleach solution to sanitize.

Hand Hygiene

• Soap + small water cascade beats sanitizer for grime.
• Set a hand‑wash station with a spigot jug and catch basin.

Surface Safety

• Disinfect kitchen/bath high‑touch areas daily.
• Keep food prep separate from sanitation zones.

Real Example

Apartment used a bucket toilet with double bags and a dedicated bleach spray; no GI illness over a 5‑day outage.

Checklist

• 5‑gal buckets + liners
• Bleach and spray bottles
• Soap, paper towels
• Gloves

Contingencies

• No bleach → soap/water clean + alcohol (≥60%) for touchpoints.

After-Action

Restock liners and document daily water use per person for future planning.

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