Chapter 21 · Hygiene and sanitation
21.2 The toilet when there is no water
The first step is knowing which of two situations you have. The answer changes everything.
| Situation | How you recognize it | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| A. There is no water, but the sewer works | Outage from your water company due to a break or low pressure; a hard freeze like in historic winter storms. There is no “do not use the sewer” notice. | Use the regular toilet and flush it with a bucket of water (section 21.3). |
| B. The sewer doesn't work or must not be used | Notice from authorities; flooding; damaged pipes; water rising or bubbling up in the shower, bathtub, or floor drain; sewer smell. | Don't flush anything. Use a bag in the bowl or a bucket toilet (sections 21.4 and 21.5). |
