Food, water, and backup power get a lot of attention in emergency planning. Bathrooms usually come much further down the list, until the day a toilet stops flushing or sewage starts coming back through a drain.
Recent conversations about keeping 90 days of supplies have raised questions about how long people could manage without everyday services. There is no single 90-day household emergency requirement behind those online claims. Still, even a much shorter water or sewer interruption can make sanitation a problem. A few inexpensive supplies and a little knowledge of your home’s plumbing can make an enormous difference.
Quick answer: If the sewer or septic system is backed up, damaged, or under a no-flush advisory, stop using connected toilets and drains. Set up a temporary toilet, keep urine and solid waste separate when possible, store waste securely, and follow local instructions for disposal. If only the incoming water supply has stopped and the wastewater system is confirmed functional, a manual flush may be possible.
First, figure out why the toilet stopped working
A toilet that won’t flush can mean very different things. The next step depends on which part of the system is affected.
- No running water, but sewer service is working: If your water utility confirms the sewer or septic system is safe to use, you may be able to pour stored non-drinking water into the bowl to flush. Save drinking-quality water for drinking, food, and handwashing.
- Sewer backup, wastewater system failure, or a no-flush advisory: Do not flush, run sinks, or send more wastewater into drains until authorities or a qualified professional say it is safe.
- Flooded or damaged septic system: Limit household water use and use a temporary toilet until the system has recovered or been inspected. A septic system can be affected even when water still flows from faucets.
- Unknown cause: If multiple fixtures are gurgling, draining slowly, or backing up, avoid adding water and contact the wastewater utility, building manager, or plumber.
The CDC’s guidance for septic systems during floods advises reducing water use and using a temporary toilet when needed. If you are unsure about the wastewater system, do not assume that a toilet can be safely flushed just because you have a bucket of water.
How to make an emergency toilet with two buckets
A two-bucket system is one of the simplest backup arrangements for an extended interruption. It also reduces the weight, odor, and handling problems that come from mixing urine and solid waste.
- Gather two sturdy five-gallon buckets with lids. Label one “Urine” and the other “Solids.” A snap-on toilet seat or a sturdy removable bucket seat makes either easier to use.
- Line the solids bucket. Fit it with a heavy-duty garbage bag that extends over the rim. Keep extra bags close by.
- Keep urine separate. Use the second bucket for urine and close it with a secure lid between uses. Put used toilet paper in the solids bag or in a separate lined trash bag rather than in the urine bucket.
- Cover solid waste after each use. Sprinkle dry wood shavings, sawdust, shredded paper, or a similar absorbent carbon material over it to reduce odor and discourage flies.
- Change bags before they get heavy. Wear gloves, close the inner bag securely, double-bag when needed, and move it to a dedicated, covered, pest-resistant container away from food and water.
- Keep a handwashing station nearby. Use soap and safe water from a container with a spigot, and collect the used water rather than sending it into a drain that may be backed up.
For detailed diagrams and setup advice, see Oregon State University Extension’s emergency sanitation guide. Washington State Department of Health also explains how to line an existing toilet or use a bucket when normal plumbing is unavailable.
Can you use the toilet bowl instead?
Yes, if the plumbing is out of service and there is no risk of accidental flushing, an existing toilet can serve as a seat for a bag-lined waste collection setup. Turn off the toilet’s supply valve, empty the bowl as directed by local guidance, and line it securely with sturdy bags beneath the seat. This does not protect the home from sewage backing up through the drain. It is simply a way to collect waste without flushing.
Where do you put the waste?
Plan for storage before you need the toilet. Keep used solids bags sealed in a sturdy lidded container that children, pets, wildlife, and pests cannot access. Store the container away from drinking water, food, and living areas, preferably in a sheltered, ventilated location that will not flood.
Keep urine in a separate, closed container until you know how local officials want it managed. Rules vary by community, conditions, and the type of emergency. Do not pour urine or human waste into storm drains, floodwater, streams, or an uncertain sewer system. Do not place untreated human waste in ordinary household compost.
Do not assume sealed toilet waste can go out with regular curbside trash. During a widespread sewer failure, public health or solid-waste authorities may give special collection or disposal instructions. Follow those local directions. During a short interruption, a working restroom elsewhere may be the better option.
Know your main water shutoff, and what it cannot do
Locate the main water shutoff before an emergency. Turning it off can stop incoming water during a broken pipe, prevent additional water entering the home, or help isolate household plumbing when instructed.
But the incoming water valve has a separate job from the sewer line. Closing the main water valve will not stop wastewater from backing up through toilets, floor drains, showers, or basement fixtures. If the municipal sewer is overloaded or blocked, sewage can travel backward through the drain system.
Signs of a possible backup include sewage odors, gurgling from multiple fixtures, wastewater appearing in a floor drain, or several slow-draining fixtures at once. Stop using the plumbing, keep people and pets away from contaminated areas, and contact the appropriate utility or plumber. Never enter floodwater where electrical hazards may be present.
What about backflow valves, drain plugs, and the tennis-ball trick?
You may have seen advice to put a tennis ball inside a plastic bag and push it into a toilet opening to keep sewage out. It sounds easy, but an improvised plug is not a reliable, pressure-rated seal. It can slip, leak, or become lodged in the plumbing. Do not rely on a ball, rag, or similar loose object to protect your home from a sewer backup.
A properly sized removable drain plug or a professionally installed backwater valve may be appropriate for certain fixtures and plumbing layouts. A licensed plumber can explain where protection belongs and what your local plumbing code allows. A plug installed in one opening may simply shift a backup to another, lower or unprotected fixture.
If a backwater valve closes, wastewater produced inside the house may have nowhere to drain. Avoid using toilets, sinks, showers, washing machines, and other water-using fixtures while the valve is closed. Valves also require inspection and maintenance.
For more detail, consult New York City’s guidance on sewer backups and your local wastewater utility. For flood-prone homes, have an experienced plumber assess the whole drain layout rather than buying a plug based on a social media video.
Don’t forget handwashing and cleanup
Waste containment is only part of the plan. Illness spreads more easily when people cannot wash their hands or clean contaminated surfaces.
- Keep soap, a jug or container with a spigot, clean handwashing water, and paper towels together.
- Wash with soap and safe water for at least 20 seconds after using an emergency toilet, handling waste, changing diapers, or cleaning contaminated surfaces.
- Hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol is useful when soap and water are unavailable, but it is less effective against some germs. Norovirus is a good example.
- Keep disinfectant, gloves, garbage bags, and cleaning cloths available. Clean visible dirt first and follow the product’s disinfection instructions.
- Never mix bleach with ammonia, acids, or other cleaning chemicals. Keep cleaning products and waste containers out of children’s reach.
- Use additional caution with diapers, incontinence supplies, pet waste, and anyone who is sick. Prepare extra liners and disposal supplies for those needs.
CDC norovirus guidance explains why washing hands with soap and water matters, particularly around bathrooms and food preparation.
A simple emergency sanitation kit
You can keep most of this inside the buckets so the supplies are together when you need them.
- Two sturdy buckets with secure lids and clear labels
- A toilet seat attachment or another stable seating option
- Heavy-duty liners and spare leak-resistant bags
- Dry wood shavings, shredded paper, or another suitable absorbent material
- Toilet paper, tissues, and supplies for diapers or incontinence care if needed
- Disposable gloves, soap, paper towels, and cleaning/disinfecting supplies
- A handwashing water container with a spigot and a collection basin
- A separate, sturdy, lidded container for sealed waste bags
- A printed copy of local water, sewer, and public health contact information
Start with a setup that works for a few days, then decide what additional supplies make sense for your household, space, and risks. A 90-day stockpile is not necessary to make meaningful progress. The most useful kit is one you understand and can use safely.
Apartment, rental, and shared-building considerations
In an apartment, a building-wide wastewater problem can affect units even when an individual bathroom appears normal. Notify management promptly, follow official no-flush instructions, and avoid making changes to shared drains or plumbing. A compact lined toilet system, a private place to use it, and a plan for temporary waste storage are worth thinking through in advance.
If you have room to stay with someone whose plumbing is functioning safely, that may be easier than maintaining a temporary toilet for days. The same is true for households with very young children, mobility limitations, or significant medical needs.
Frequently asked questions
Can I flush the toilet by pouring water into it during an outage?
Sometimes. If only the incoming water service is interrupted and your sewer or septic system is known to be working, a manual flush may be possible. Do not do this during a sewer backup, suspected wastewater failure, or no-flush advisory.
Should I separate urine from solid waste?
Yes, when practical. Two containers reduce odor and wet waste volume, which makes handling and short-term storage easier. A single lined bucket can still be used if that is all you have.
Does shutting off the main water valve stop sewage from backing up?
No. The main water shutoff controls incoming water. Sewage backups travel through drainpipes and require separate plumbing protections and precautions.
Can a tennis ball in a plastic bag seal a toilet drain?
Do not count on it. Improvised plugs may shift under pressure, leak, or become stuck. Ask a licensed plumber about correctly sized removable plugs or other code-compliant protection.
Can bagged human waste go in my normal garbage bin?
Do not assume it can. Keep it sealed and securely stored while you follow local public health or waste-service instructions for collection and disposal.
What if the water is running but my septic system has flooded?
Reduce all nonessential water use and switch to a temporary toilet if needed. Keep away from contaminated floodwater and seek professional inspection if damage is suspected.
How do I wash my hands without a working faucet?
Set up a container of safe water with a spigot and use soap for at least 20 seconds. Catch used water in a basin if drains may be backed up. Use sanitizer when soap and water are unavailable, understanding its limits.
A little preparation goes a long way
Most of us don’t think about how much we depend on safe wastewater removal until it becomes unavailable. Take a few minutes to locate your plumbing shutoff, learn whether your home uses a sewer or septic system, and assemble basic supplies for an emergency toilet.
For more ways to prepare, explore our emergency sanitation resource guide, water preparedness guide, and family power outage checklist.
Be prepared, not scared.