My composting toilet urine diverter clogged, and the liquid tank overflowed. It soaked into the subfloor and dripped onto the ground at the RV park. The park manager called the EPA/Health Department. They mandated a hazardous materials cleanup of the soil. Cost: $12,000. My insurance denied it under the “Pollution Exclusion.”
Key Takeaways
- Human Waste is a “Pollutant”: Insurance policies exclude “discharge, dispersal, seepage, migration, release or escape of pollutants.” Sewage falls under this definition.
- The “Sudden and Accidental” Exception: Some policies cover pollution if it causes property damage inside the home (e.g., ruined floor). They rarely cover the soil cleanup outside.
- Liability to Others: If your waste contaminates the neighbor’s well or the park’s land, you are personally liable for the remediation.
- Incinerating Toilets are Safer: From an insurance perspective, ash is easier to handle than raw sewage buckets.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Environmental Hazard.”
Composting toilets are great for the earth, until they aren’t. Handling raw sewage in buckets (the “humanure” method) is risky.
If you spill a 5-gallon bucket of “black water” inside, it’s a biohazard. Professional remediation (Servpro) costs thousands. Standard policies categorize this similarly to an oil spill. It is excluded unless you have specific endorsements.
The Investigation (My Analysis of Coverage)
I looked for the “Poop Loophole.”
Foremost
- The Policy: Standard Dwelling Fire.
- The Result: Water damage to the floor might be covered if sudden. Soil cleanup is excluded.
Strategic Insurance (Lloyd’s)
- The Nuance: They understand composting toilets.
- The Advice: They recommend “Premises Liability” which can cover damage to third-party property (the RV park’s soil), but you have to check the pollution sub-limit.
The “Sewer Backup” Rider
- The Fix: Many homeowners policies offer a “Water Backup / Sump Overflow” endorsement.
- The Trick: Ask if this covers “Composting Toilet Overflow.” Usually, it covers pipes backing up. A bucket overflowing might be considered “user error/negligence.”
[IMAGE: Photo of a Nature’s Head toilet disassembled, showing the liquid bottle and solids bin]
Comparison Table
| Scenario | Standard Policy | With “Water Backup” Rider | Pollution Liability |
| Internal Floor Damage | Maybe (Sudden) | Yes | No |
| Soil Contamination | Denied | Denied | Covered |
| Smell/Odor Removal | Denied | Maybe | No |
| Mold Growth | Denied | Denied | No |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Plumb it to the Sewer: If possible, plumb the urine diverter directly to the sewer/grey water line. This removes the “bucket spill” risk.
- Add “Water Backup” Coverage: It costs $20/year. It’s the closest thing to coverage you can get for this.
- Use a Tray: Put the entire toilet unit in a waterproof tray (like a washing machine pan). If it leaks, it stays in the pan.
- Don’t Dump on the Ground: Obviously. This is illegal and voids all liability coverage for “Intentional Acts.”
FAQ
Does insurance cover the toilet fan failure?
No. Mechanical breakdown.
Are bucket toilets legal?
Depends on the county. Many “Tiny Friendly” counties still require a septic connection or an NSF-certified composting unit. A bucket with sawdust is often illegal, giving insurance another reason to deny.
What about grey water spills?
Grey water is less toxic, but still a pollutant. Same rules apply.