Hurricane Response Guide for Environmental Public Health Professionals
Best Practices Emergency Facilities at Home - Options Option 1: Modify an existing toilet.
In the aftermath of a disaster, the normal water supply to your toilet may be disrupted; however, if the wastewater system is still operational, you can manually flush your toilet by following these steps: 1. Locate a bucket or large container and fill it with water. 2. Carefully pour the water into the toilet tank until it reaches the normal fill line. 3. Flush the toilet as usual, and the water poured into the tank will help dispose of the waste. If the wastewater system is not functioning or water is completely unavailable, you can still use your toilet to safely dispose of human waste by following this procedure: 1. Line the toilet bowl with a heavy-duty plastic bag, ensuring it covers the entire bowl and overlaps the edges. 2. After each use, add a small amount of bleach or disinfectant to the bag to help control odors and prevent the spread of germs. 3. Tightly tie or seal the bag when it is nearly full or after each use, if possible. 4. Remove the bag from the toilet and place it in a designated waste storage area, such as a lined trash can with a tight-fitting lid, until proper disposal is possible. Option 2: Create a homemade port-a-john.
1. Use 5-gallon buckets lined with heavy-duty plastic garbage bags. 2. Add deodorizers such as lime, household bleach, or kitty litter. 3. Keep buckets in a cool, dark place with a tight lid. 4. Do not throw human waste in the regular trash. 5. Bury waste or dispose of it by flushing the toilet when services are restored. 6. Clean and disinfect buckets after use.
Note: Ensure portable waste collection systems (port-a-potties, waste bladders) are stored and easily accessible for servicing and that they meet minimum offset distances from a drinking water supply or human habitation area according to local regulations. Outdoor Spills 1. Wear the appropriate PPE before working on a failed wastewater collection system. 2. Stop the source of the outdoor sewage spill. Contact the utility responsible for the sewage system. Focus on preventing further wastewater discharge. Pump down lift stations using pumper trucks or divert wastewater flows to redundant transmission lines. 3. Estimate the volume of the sewage spill to determine the affected area. Consider the normal flow of the failed lift station or pipe. Utilize Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, if available, to gather data on lift station pump run times and wastewater flow in transmission pipes. If SCADA data is not available, estimate the normal flow by finding out the number of sewer connections to the affected lift station. Survey residents and spill witnesses to determine the time and duration of the spill. Use the collected information to make the best estimate of the spill volume. Examine the surrounding terrain and drains to identify the geographic extent of the affected area. 4. Determine the type(s) of drains affected by the sewage spill. Identify whether the spill has connected with storm sewers, sanitary sewer drains, combined
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