b. Sanitation. Pails should be cleaned at least once daily. The contents may
be buried, burned, or disposed of by other sanitary methods. The use of plastic liners
for pails reduces the risk of accidental spillage. Filled bags are tied at the top; then are
disposed of by burning or burial.
6-15. URINE DISPOSAL FACILITIES
In permanent and semipermanent camps, urine disposal facilities are usually
connected into the waterborne sewage system. In the field, separate devices for the
disposal of urine may be necessary. Such facilities should be sufficient to
accommodate 5 percent of the command at one time.
a. Urine Soakage Pit. The best device for urine disposal in the field is the urine
soakage pit. This pit is dug 4 feet square and 4 feet deep; it is then filled with rocks,
flattened tin cans, broken bottles, or other coarse contact material. A border 6 inches
wide and 4 inches deep, composed of small stones or similar materials, is laid along
each edge of the pit such that each side of the soakage surface is 5 feet in length.
Depending on the materials available, either pipe urinals or trough urinals may be used
with this pit. An optional feature is the ventilating shafts with screened openings
extending from about 7 inches above to within 6 inches of the bottom of the pit.
b. Pipe Urinals. Five pipe urinals will be sufficient to serve the needs of a
company of 100 men. Pipe urinals should be at least 1 inch in diameter. They should
be placed at an angle near each corner of the pit and, if needed, on the sides halfway
between the corners (figure 6-11). These pipes should extend at least 8 inches below the
surface of the pit. A funnel of tar paper, sheet metal, or similar material is placed in the
top of each pipe, the upper rim extending about 28 inches above the ground surface.
c. Trough Urinals. If the necessary materials are available and more
permanent facilities are desired, a trough urinal may be built (figure 6-12). On the basis of
accommodating 5 percent of a command at one time, 10 feet of trough length should be
allowed for every 100 men in the command. This trough may be either U-or V-shaped
and made of sheet metal or of wood. If made of wood, the trough should be lined with
heavy tarpaper. Each of the four troughs forming the side of this urinal should be not
more than 4-1/2 feet in length when used with a soakage pit and apron with the
dimensions given in paragraph a above. Each trough should slope slightly toward one
corner where a pipe is connected to carry the urine into the soakage pit.
MD0008
6-19