6 Things A Sewer Worker Begs Families Not To Do When The Power Goes Out. He Cleans Up After Every One Of Them.
Most of them are on the advice you've been given. Number 1 is what almost everyone in Florida does the first night.
He's spent nineteen years running the sewer pumps for a Florida county.
After every big storm, his crews go into the neighborhoods to clean up what came back up the pipes.
I asked him what people do wrong.
He didn't have to think.
"Same six things. Every storm. Every street."
- Turns liquid to gel — nothing sloshes
- No water. No drain. Nothing to back up.
- Works with a bucket or portable toilet
- 3 free emergency guides with every order
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Don't flush with a bucket
- Don't drain the tub
- Don't run the washer or dishwasher
- Don't trust a kitchen trash bag
- Don't dig a hole in the yard
- Don't count on kitty litter
Don't Flush With A Bucket Of Pool Water.
"Everybody's grandmother told them this," he said. "Fill the tub, pour a bucket in fast, it goes down."
It does go down.
Into a pipe that's already full.
"When my pumps are down, every bucket you pour pushes on everybody else's. It has to come out somewhere."
During major sewer disruptions, draining or flushing more water into the system can increase backup risk.
Don't Pull The Plug On The Tub.
That water still has to go somewhere when you pull the plug.
You filled it before the storm. Smart.
But draining it sends a large volume of water into the wastewater system at once.
"People drain the tub to feel normal again," he said. "That's exactly when the sewer system may still be struggling."
Don't Run The Washer. Or The Dishwasher. Or The Shower.
During major wastewater disruptions, authorities may ask households to limit flushing, showers, laundry, dishwasher use, and draining sinks or tubs.
That's the trap.
The tap still works, so people assume the drain does too.
"The water coming in and the wastewater going out are two different systems," he said.
Don't Trust A Kitchen Trash Bag.
So you stop flushing. Good.
Now the family still needs a bathroom backup.
A normal kitchen garbage bag wasn't specifically designed for temporary human-waste containment.
"The last thing you want is a bag leaking while you're carrying it through the house."
Don't Dig A Hole In The Yard.
It's one of the first emergency ideas people think of.
But after major rain or flooding, saturated ground can make improvised outdoor sanitation a bad solution.
Local disposal rules also still matter.
Follow local emergency-management and waste-disposal guidance rather than improvising a disposal site.
Don't Count On Kitty Litter Alone.
This is a common emergency workaround: buckets and bags of litter.
But a household can produce far more liquid waste than people expect.
"What you want is something that handles the liquid without requiring bags and bags of loose material."
"That's why I prefer an actual gelling absorbent."
What He Does Instead
"Nothing goes down the drain. That's the whole trick."
"A toilet or bucket lined with a waste bag. An absorbent that handles the liquid. Then a second disposal bag around it."
"No water. No drain. Nothing to back up."
"Keep the whole setup together before the storm. You don't want to be hunting for different pieces when the power is already out."
The Emergency Bathroom System I Found
The option I found with the core pieces packed together is the Emergency Sanitation Kit from Standby Supply.
Each kit is designed to give you a simple bathroom backup when normal plumbing can't be used.
Here's what's included:
- Black inner waste liner
- Absorbent gelling/deodorizing packet
- Resealable outer disposal bag
- Toilet paper
- Individually wrapped wet wipe
Using it is simple:
- Line ItPlace the black liner inside your toilet or portable emergency toilet.
- Use ItUse the bathroom normally and use the absorbent packet according to the product instructions.
- Seal ItClose the liner and place it inside the resealable outer disposal bag.
- Emergency Bathroom Plan
- 72-Hour Family Sanitation Checklist
- Emergency Hygiene & Disposal Guide
Backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The Gap In Most Emergency Plans
You've probably already thought about food.
Water.
Flashlights.
Batteries.
But what happens when the toilet can't be used?
That's the part almost nobody wants to think about until it becomes a problem.
You've got the water.
You've got the food.
You've got the light.
Now give your family a bathroom backup plan.
P.S. The tap still running doesn't necessarily mean the wastewater system is functioning normally.
Keep your stored water for the things you truly need it for.
Have a bathroom backup plan before you need one.