Latrines
From TEOTWiki
Latrines are toilets, plain and simple. It is common (and smart) practice to keep latrines located away from your sleep sites, food and supplies. It is not only unpleasant to smell, but human waste also brings with it a ready supply of bacteria and insects that can spread disease, as well as curious animals from time to time.
Some people call them latrines, trenches, outhouses, privies, bogs, etc.
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Locating the Latrine
You should always locate a latrine downhill of any water sources if possible. Seepage from the latrine can contaminate these sources. It is also important not to dig too far down, as you can contaminate ground water that you may need later. (See the page on water for details for water purification and preservation)
The area should be downwind as well, to prevent airborne contaminants from infiltrating your site.
If you know where the water table lies in the area, make sure you leave 7-8 feet of soil (about 2 meters) between the bottom of your latrine and the water table. Again, this will help to prevent contamination.
Lastly, avoid flood areas. If your latrine floods, contamination becomes a huge problem, and can foul your whole site.
Types of Latrines
Pit Toilets
A pit toilet is essentially a hole in the ground. One can augment a pit toilet with a pipe for ventilation, and prevent some insect breeding (particularly flies and mosquitoes) by covering the end of the ventilation pipe with a screen. This works best if the opening is covered with a board when not in use.
Squat Toilet
A squat toilet is essentially a pit toilet with a cover on it. Typically a hole is situated in the center to allow waste into the latrine, and keep larger animals and bugs from becoming pests. These also benefit from ventilation tubes, if one is available, with the addition of a hinged cover over the main hole.
Pail Latrine
A pail latrine may be built when conditions (populated areas, rocky soil, and marshes) are such that a latrine of another type cannot be constructed. It is a simple enclosure, like a bottomless box with a hole cut in the top for waste. You can optionally add a hinged door to the back of the enclosure.
The waste in pails may be disposed of by burning or by hauling to a suitable area and burying. The use of plastic bag liners for pails reduces the risk of accidental spillage if they are available.
Burn-out Latrine
(From the Army Sanitation Manual) The burn-out latrine may be provided when the soil is hard, rocky, or frozen, making it difficult to dig a deep pit latrine. It is particularly suitable in areas with high water tables because digging a deep pit is impossible. You should urinate in a different area rather than the burn-out latrine, as more fuel is required to burn out the liquid.
To construct a burn-out latrine, an oil drum is cut in half, and handles are welded to the sides of the half drum for easy carrying. A wooden seat with a lid is placed on top of the drum.
The latrine is burned out daily by adding sufficient fuel to incinerate the fecal matter. A mixture of 1 quart (1 liter) of gasoline to 4 quarts (4 liters) of diesel oil is effective, but must be used with caution. If possible, have two sets of drums, one set for use while the other set is being burned clean. If the contents are not rendered dry and odorless by one burning, they should be burned again. Any remaining ash should be buried.
Watch out: DANGER Highly volatile fuel such as JP4 (jet propulsion fuel, grade 4) should not be used because of its explosive nature. A burn-out latrine is for military use and is not recommended for civilian applications - OPINION-DF.
Maintaining the Latrine
Odor and Insect Control
People use a number of things to sprinkle into the latrine to prevent smell and insect larvae.
- Lime - (Calcium hypochlorite, or Ca{ClO}2) Sprinkle this down the hole, but do not get it on the seat. It can burn the skin.
- Sawdust - (Especially Cedar which dehumidifies and has a pleasant scent) Sprinkle it right down.
- Wood Ash - One of many uses for wood ashes.
- Straw - Another dehumidifier and odor reducer, but not my favorite. Straw has too many other uses that supersede being dropped in a privy.
General Tips
If you are blessed enough to have actual toilet paper, try to find an empty coffee can with a plastic lid. You can keep the bog roll in this can to keep it dry and ready for use.
Old phone books or other newsprint paper can make effective emergency toilet paper. Ball up the page and straighten it out a few times while you are conducting business. After a few times you will soften up the paper and clean-up will go a lot... smoother. (This can leave ink stains on your holiest of holies, so don't show anyone)
If you have the materials, Whitewash the materials of the privy (except the seat or places bare skin will lean) - this inhibits insects as well.
Where do to 'business' when no latrine is available
With your boot or shoe (or a shovel, if you're extremely prepared) dig out a hole a few inches deep, do your business, and use your shoe (or shovel) to cover the waste with the loose dirt. This keeps smell down, prevents pest breeding, and it will decompose naturally in a short while.
