- Water treatment
If you have run out of bottled water there are a couple of methods of treating potentially contaminated water. The first is to boil water (if you have access to a fireplace or butane stove, for example). The second is to use no more than 12 drops of bleach per gallon of potentially contaminated water. You must let the water stand for 45 minutes before using it and it will have a chlorinated smell.
- Composting toilet
In the event of a major emergency (as we saw in the coverage of Hurricane Katrina), the most basic function of using a toilet with working plumbing can be obstructed. A simple composting sawdust toilet can be a viable alternative. For this, you essentially use a bucket as your makeshift toilet and cover the waste with sawdust, dry leaves and dry soil. Empty the contents of the full bucket in a composting bin. The sawdust, soil and leaves will actually help reduce odors.
Some information obtained from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the book Preparedness Now! by Anton Edwards.
