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Our well is dry. Can a porta potty serve a family of five for a month?

Sam O.asked 5 viewsHome Renovations & Long-termLong term rentalFamily useFresh water tankStandard unitDeluxe unit

Our well pump burned out last week and the drilling company says it will be a month before the new well is ready. We're a family of five, two adults and three kids, and we're trying to figure out our bathroom situation. We have a standard portable toilet company coming to drop off a unit tomorrow, but I'm second-guessing if a basic non-flushing model is the right call.

We're on a gravel driveway with plenty of space, and a truck can pull right up. I've been looking at the options: a standard unit is simple and cheap, but a deluxe unit with a flushing bowl and sink seems a lot more civilized for a whole month. There's also the idea of a restroom trailer, which would feel like a real bathroom, but I don't know if that's overkill or if the cost is justified.

For a family living here full-time for four weeks, what's the best choice to keep everyone comfortable? How much of a hassle is the weekly service visit going to be?

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Jake W.Denver, CO

A deluxe unit with a sink is the sweet spot for a family of five living with it for a month, and I would skip the trailer. I've set up the same thing for clients during whole house replumbs where the water was off for weeks.

A standard unit works, but with three kids using it all day the tank fills faster than you'd think, and having no sink means hand washing turns into a jug on the porch. The deluxe gets you a flushing bowl and a sink, and it pulls from its own fresh water tank, so your dry well doesn't matter. The service tech refills that tank on each visit.

A restroom trailer feels nicer, but it usually wants a water hookup and power. With no well you'd be hauling water to it, which defeats the point.

Weekly service is barely a hassle. The truck pulls up, pumps, refills, restocks paper and leaves in a few minutes. You don't need to be home. Just keep the gravel path clear and ask the company to bump you to twice a week if the tank is getting full before the visit. Put it close to the back door with the door facing the house so the kids aren't walking across the yard at night.

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Luis A.Bozeman, MT

A deluxe unit is the right call for a family of five for a month, but Jake missed the service frequency detail. A standard unit holds 50 to 70 gallons, which a family of five can fill in under a week, so you need twice-weekly service to avoid overflows. A deluxe unit has a larger holding tank and a separate fresh water tank for flushing and the sink, which the driver refills on each visit. Restroom trailers require level ground, a generator or power hookup, and a water source, which your dry well makes impractical. Confirm with the rental company that they can service twice weekly and that the unit includes a handwash station with soap.

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