Hygiene Without Infrastructure

Maintaining hygiene and sanitation when normal infrastructure fails. Use when someone faces a water outage, sewer backup, extended power outage, camping without facilities, or any situation where normal plumbing and sanitation are unavailable.

# Hygiene & Sanitation Without Infrastructure

When the water stops flowing or the sewer backs up, you have about 72 hours before hygiene becomes a health emergency. Diarrheal disease from contaminated water kills more people globally than violence. That's not a developing-world statistic -- it's what happens anywhere when sanitation fails and people don't know the basics. This skill covers what to do when you can't flush, can't turn on the tap, and can't count on the systems you normally take for granted. The information is practical, tested, and drawn from disaster response and field sanitation protocols used worldwide.

```agent-adaptation
# Localization note -- hygiene principles are universal. Water treatment standards and product
# availability vary by region.
# Agent must follow these rules when working with non-US users:
- Water purification techniques (boiling, filtration, chemical treatment) are universal.
- Bleach concentration varies by country:
  US: household bleach is typically 6-8.25% sodium hypochlorite
  UK/EU: household bleach concentration varies (check label for % sodium hypochlorite)
  Adjust dosing accordingly: the target is 8 drops (0.5 mL) per gallon for 6% bleach.
  For higher concentrations, use fewer drops. For lower, use more.
  Formula: (6 / actual_percentage) x 8 drops per gallon of clear water
- Water quality standards:
  US: EPA drinking water standards
  UK: Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI)
  EU: EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184
  WHO: Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality (universal baseline)
- Product availability:
  Sawyer/LifeStraw filters: widely available globally via Amazon
  Berkey filters: primarily US/UK/AU, alternatives exist elsewhere
  SteriPEN: available globally, check voltage for charging
- Waste disposal regulations vary by jurisdiction.
  Agent must advise checking local rules for human waste disposal,
  greywater use, and emergency sanitation during declared emergencies.
- Emergency services: US 911, UK 999, AU 000, EU 112.
```

## Sources & Verification

- **CDC emergency water treatment guidelines** -- US federal guidance on water disinfection methods. [cdc.gov/healthywater](https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/travel/emergency_disinfection.html)
- **WHO water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) guidelines** -- the global standard for sanitation in emergency conditions. [who.int/water_sanitation_health](https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/water-sanitation-and-health)
- **EPA emergency disinfection** -- EPA guidance on treating water with household chemicals. [epa.gov](https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water)
- **FEMA sanitation guidance** -- federal emergency management sanitation protocols. [ready.gov](https://www.ready.gov/water)
- **Red Cross emergency hygiene** -- field-tested hygiene protocols for disaster response. [redcross.org](https://www.redcross.org/)

## When to Use

- Water service has been interrupted (main break, contamination notice, natural disaster)
- Sewer system has backed up or is unavailable
- Extended power outage has disabled well pumps or water treatment
- User is camping, hiking, or living without plumbing facilities
- User is preparing for potential infrastructure disruptions
- User needs to maintain hygiene in a field or emergency medical situation
- Boil-water advisory has been issued for the user's area

## Instructions

### Step 1: Water Purification

**Agent action**: Determine the user's situation and provide the appropriate water treatment method, starting with the most reliable.

```
WATER PURIFICATION METHODS (in order of reliability):

METHOD 1: BOILING -- THE GOLD STANDARD
-> Bring water to a rolling boil for 1 minute
-> At elevations above 6,500 feet: boil for 3 minutes
-> Let cool naturally (don't add ice unless the ice was made from
   safe water)
-> Works against: bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasites -- everything
-> Requires: heat source and a pot
-> Downside: uses fuel, takes time, doesn't improve taste or remove
   chemicals

METHOD 2: FILTRATION
-> Gravity filters (Sawyer, Berkey): $30-100, no pumping required,
   filters thousands of gallons
   -> Removes: bacteria and protozoa
   -> Does NOT remove viruses (adequate for most US/EU water sources;
      in areas where viral contamination is likely, follow filtration
      with chemical or UV treatment)
-> Pump filters (MSR, Katadyn): $50-100, faster than gravity, good
   for small groups
-> Straw filters (LifeStraw): $15-25, drink directly or attach to
   a bottle, good for personal emergency use
-> All filters have a lifespan. Check and replace as specified.
-> Pre-filter visibly cloudy water through a cloth or coffee filter
   first to extend the main filter's life

METHOD 3: CHEMICAL TREATMENT
-> Household bleach (plain unscented, 6-8.25% sodium hypochlorite):
   -> Clear water: 8 drops (1/2 mL) per gallon
   -> Cloudy water: 16 drops (1 mL) per gallon
   -> Stir, wait 30 minutes. Should smell slightly of chlorine.
   -> If no chlorine smell after 30 min, repeat and wait 15 more min.
   -> DO NOT use scented bleach, color-safe bleach, or bleach with
      added cleaners
-> Water purification tablets (Aquatabs, Potable Aqua): $8-15 for 50+
   -> Follow package directions exactly
   -> Effective against bacteria, viruses, and most protozoa
   -> 30-minute wait time typically
-> Iodine: effective but not recommended for pregnant women, people
   with thyroid conditions, or for use beyond a few weeks

METHOD 4: UV TREATMENT
-> SteriPEN ($50-80): 90 seconds per liter, kills bacteria, viruses,
   and protozoa
-> Requires batteries or USB charging
-> Water must be clear (UV can't penetrate turbid water)
-> Pre-filter cloudy water before UV treatment
-> Good backup method, battery-dependent

WATER STORAGE:
-> Store in clean, food-grade containers with tight lids
-> 1 gallon per person per day (drinking + basic cooking)
-> 3-day minimum supply recommended
-> Commercially bottled water is already treated and sealed
-> Stored tap water: rotate every 6 months, or treat with 1/8 tsp
   bleach per gallon for longer storage
```

### Step 2: Emergency Sanitation (Toilet Alternatives)

**Agent action**: Provide practical toilet solutions when the sewer system is unavailable.

```
EMERGENCY TOILET OPTIONS:

OPTION 1: BUCKET TOILET ($0-20)
-> Materials: 5-gallon bucket, heavy-duty trash bags (contractor grade),
   cat litter OR sawdust OR wood ash for odor absorption
-> Setup:
   1. Line the bucket with a heavy-duty trash bag
   2. After each use, cover waste with a handful of cat litter or sawdust
   3. When the bag is half full (DO NOT overfill -- it gets heavy),
      tie it securely and double-bag it
   4. Dispose in regular trash (check local emergency rules -- during
      declared emergencies, many jurisdictions allow this)
   5. Replace the bag and repeat
-> Commercial option: Luggable Loo ($20) -- a toilet seat that snaps
   onto a 5-gallon bucket. More comfortable, same principle.
-> Lime powder: for extended situations, agricultural lime sprinkled
   on waste controls odor and helps decomposition. Available at
   garden centers, $5-10 for a large bag.

OPTION 2: EXISTING TOILET (no water service)
-> Your toilet still works mechanically without running water
-> Pour 1-2 gallons of ANY water directly into the bowl (not the tank)
   quickly -- the force of the pour triggers the siphon flush
-> Sources: pool water, rain barrels, bathtub stored water, creek water
-> This only works if the sewer line is intact. If the sewer has
   backed up, DO NOT flush -- you'll make it worse.

OPTION 3: TRENCH LATRINE (extended outdoor/rural situations)
-> Dig a trench 6-8 inches wide, 1 foot deep, at least 200 feet from
   any water source and downhill from your camp/living area
-> After each use, cover with a few inches of dirt
-> When the trench is within 4 inches of ground level, fill it in
   completely and dig a new one
-> Wash hands