Chemical Toilets for the Home – When the SHTF Good Sanitation is Vital!

Some emergency situations simply can’t be overcome without a good chemical toilet. When you’re dealing with a SHTF emergency (literally!), you can’t leave the house and the sewer becomes unusable, you have to consider all aspects of how to manage everyday aspects – including going to the toilet. Chemical toilets are an excellent choice for managing waste efficiently and preventing contamination.


Best Chemical ToiletsDetails
Camco Standard Portable Travel Toilet Alpha Survivalist Top Pick

Camco Standard Portable Travel Toilet
  • 5.3 gallon waste tank capacity
  • 2.5 gallon fresh water flush tank capacity
  • 330 lb weight capacity
  • Sealed gate valve
  • Durable polyethylene construction
  • Lightweight, convenient
  • Bellows-type pump
  • Side latches to secure top to bottom
  • Easy emptying
  • Integrated handles for portability
Porta Potti Curve Portable Toilet

Thetford 92360 Porta Potti 550E Curve Portable Toilet
  • Versatility:Award-winning, top-of-the-line portable toilet, suited for RVs, boats, trucks, vans, healthcare, camping and even off-the-grid lifestyle, with a 4 gallons fresh water tank capacity and a 5.5 gallons waste water capacity
  • Design:Sleek, modern, and homelike look, Porta Potti Curve comes with a comfortable seat height, increased bowl size, and battery-powered flush
  • Functionality: Easy to use and clean, Curve has an ergonomic carrying handle, an integrated toilet paper holder, and a tank level indicator
  • Sanitary:Odorless and leak proof, the portable toilet has a sealed valve to prevent odors from escaping and a rotating pour-out spout for emptying the waste water tank without backsplashes
  • Optional:The hold down kit helps secure the portable toilet to the floor, holding it in place while you're on the road


SereneLife Outdoor Portable Toilet
  • Go in comfort anywhere: Whether heading off for an unforgettable backwoods camping trip or traveling with the family, this portable toilet kit by SereneLife lets you go wherever and whenever nature calls!
  • #1 Portable Travel Toilet: Boating enthusiasts, frequent travelers & road tripping families turn to our compact traveling toilet seat because it can tag along without taking up too much room or weighing your down.
  • Extra Large Toilet Tank: The 5.3 gallon toilet tank holds more than most other portable camping toilets, which means you'll have to empty it less often. And waste water tank level indication let you know when it's time!
  • Extremely easy to empty: We've rigged this portable camping toilet with a splash-free rotating pour spout, allowing you to quickly & discreetly empty it when full. The odor-resistant materials also make sure it doesn't retain smells!
  • Carrying case included: What kind of camping toilet chair doesn't come with a carrying case?! Our heavy duty portable toilet comes with a travel toilet bag that makes it super easy to tote around campsites.


Best Choice Products Portable Toilet
  • It's portable, convenient, clean, water-saving, odorless, and light-weight
  • It's designed for outdoor recreational activities such as camping and road trips
  • With our portable toilet, you're covered wherever and whenever you decide to go camping
  • This item is also a perfect gift for outdoor enthusiasts
  • Detachable waste tank and water tank for easy cleaning


Sanitation Equipment Visa Potty
  • Easy to use, replaceable piston pump with two-directional rinse for enhanced bowl surface coverage.
  • Extra deep bowl for greater comfort. Lid snaps closed for preventing vibration while moving.
  • Easy to read tank waste level and fresh water level indicator
  • Easy to clean detachable spout storage compartment.
  • Holding tank vent for cleaner and easier discharge of waste.


PARTYSAVING New Portable Toilet Potty
  • Completely self-contained 2.6 Gallon Portable Potty made of high density polyethylene
  • Spacious fresh water reservoir and separate waste tank included
  • Seat Post: 14"(L) x 14" (W) Max Weight: 250lbs
  • No external connection required
  • Side valve provides a tight seal, locking in odors and protecting against leakage


Palm Springs Portable Toilet
  • Self-contained portable toilet for camp site, boat, RV, or other recreation
  • Sturdy full-size seat/lid; lushes like residential toilet; matte finish conceals scratches
  • 3-gallon freshwater holding tank and 5-gallon waste-water holding tank
  • One-piece, leak-proof tanks made of high-density polyethylene
  • Arrived fully assembled; 16.5" high x 13.5" wide x 12" deep; weighs 9.75 lbs


Thetford 92850 Porta Potti 320P Portable Toilet
  • Versatility:Suited for RVs, trucks and vans, healthcare, camping, an off-the-grid lifestyle and more
  • Design:Durable, compact and easy to use
  • Functionality:Ergonomic carrying handle; bellows pump flush
  • Sanitary:Sealed valve to prevent odors from escaping the holding tank
  • Convenience:Removable seat and cover for easy cleaning
  • Innovative:Exclusive, rotating pour-out spout
  • Dimensions:17" x 15" x 13.4"
  • Capacity:4.2-gal. fresh water tank; 3.2-gal. waste water tank


Flexzion Portable Toilet
  • 5.0 gallon holding tank is detachable
  • Sealing slide valve locks in odors and protects against leakage
  • Side latches secure the tank to the toilet
  • Bellow-type flush and sturdy construction
  • High Density Polyethylene, durable, shockproof and eco-friendly


Coleman Portable Flush Toilet
  • Holds 4.8 gallons of fresh water for repeated flushing
  • Self-contained holding tank stores 5.3 gallons of waste
  • Snap-down lid fastens securely
  • Ergonomically-designed seat offers extra comfort
  • Locking slide valve for one-handed flushing
  • Separate compartment for chemical storage
  • Molded handles for easy carrying
  • Tanks come apart for easy waste disposal and cleaning
  • Great for trailers, camping, cabins and boats

An Overview of How a Chemical Toilet Really Works

Chemical toilets use a special chemically treated reservoir to treat the waste, so that it will no longer be as harmful as it normally would. The chemicals it uses are able to reduce odor and at least partially disinfect the waste for safe disposal. Naturally, a better quality (and sometimes more expensive) chemically treated reservoir will ensure better performance.

Disinfectant agents are introduced through a sliding door that separates the toilet seat from the wastewater reservoir located underneath. When it comes to most designs, you just have to pull a simple “T” handle to access the door and add the disinfectant.

Most chemical toilets use dry holding tank cleaner and deodorant products that are also used for larger RV/marine systems. Other chemical toilet setups can also use liquid disinfectant, which is capable of liquefying waste, breaking down tissue and keeping the tank clean longer.

Some chemical toilets are also designed to recirculate the water and chemicals. These are more effective, since you don’t always have to top off the water, and there is far less waste to dispose of on a regular basis.

Check out the Best Portable Toilets here


How to Safely Dispose of the Waste

When buying a chemical toilet for the home, one of the first things you have to think of is how to dispose of the waste as safely and efficiently as possible. To do this, you can access a local septic tank, either in your basement or outside, and pour the contents of the reservoir into the septic tank’s pump-out port.

If you don’t have access to a septic tank, it was buried under the snow, or it was damaged, then you can also empty the contents of the reservoir into a home indoor toilet.

Be sure to check whether there are any legal issues tied to emptying the contents of your chemical toilet’s reservoir into the septic tank belonging to a local residential area before proceeding.


The Many Potential Benefits of Chemical Toilets

While chemical toilets aren’t always needed long term, they can be great when you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, or when you’re dealing with a natural catastrophe or an emergency situation:

  • Chemical toilets are portable and easy to carry.
  • They can be used safely when the local sewer can’t be relied upon.
  • They reduce the chance of infection or contamination with parasites like Giardia.
  • The toilets can also be used effectively when your plumbing system doesn’t work properly. They liquefy the waste, so it won’t clog the waste pipes.

While a chemical toilet for the home isn’t necessarily a huge investment, it can be an extremely important one particularly for SHTF situations, and by thinking ahead with regards to sanitation needs during an emergency situation, it may well be the most prudent investment you make!