Sanitation Systems
From urban to alpine. We plan and build sustainable, site-adapted sanitation systems for your Tiny House, your alpine lodge or the new urban neighbourhoods.
Vuna presents you with a complete and up-to-date overview of possible systems and technologies for your sanitation needs. We plan and build customized systems and offer the appropriate (waste) water treatment.
A sophisticated, customized combination of these steps leads to solutions that close water and nutrient cycles. We plan decentralized wastewater systems for remote homes and implement self-sufficient rural sanitation systems.
Are you looking for a decentralized wastewater treatment system?
We recommend separating urine, feces, and greywater and treating them separately. We use the following technologies, among others, to separate material streams:
Dry and/or separation toilets
Vermifiltration & treatment wetlands
Greywater recycling
SBR (Sequencing Batch Reactors)
Urine recycling technology
Trickling filter
A sophisticated, customized combination of these steps leads to solutions that close water and nutrient cycles.
You are not connected to the drinking water system?
We offer filters, which ensure drinking water quality.
Do you have a farm?
We use the Vuna process to stabilize farm slurry, which reduces ammonia emissions.
We offer
We have a dense network of consulting firms, manufacturers, and approval authorities, ensuring the smooth execution of your project. We offer:
Feasibility studies
Planning
Building
Research
Accompanying authorisation procedures
Operation & maintenance
We'd be happy to visit you for a detailed initial assessment of your project. Purchase an initial assessment for your project now in our shop or send us an inquiry.
Our services in the field of wastewater systems
Initial assessment
CHF 1400 - 4500
Taxes included
On-site visit
Development of solution proposal
Cost estimation
Preliminary enquiry with the canton
Planted greywater filter Phytotiny
CHF 3000 - 4800
Excluding VAT
For grey or total wastewater
Local substrate (CH)
Plants suitable for the location
Individual customisation
System maintenance
CHF 450 - 1500
Excluding VAT
System maintenance
Development of solution proposal
Sludge disposal
Repairs
Vuna & Aquatiris in-house development: Phytotiny - the water purification garden
Dry Toilets FAQ
How much maintenance is required for the dry toilets?
The compost room must be checked every few weeks. If there is not enough humidity, the faeces pile may need to be "watered". The scrapers under the conveyor belts must be cleared of paper residues.
How often do the compost piles need to be turned?
In mountain huts, the stock should be reorganised at the end of the summer or winter season, i.e. a maximum of twice a year. Reference example: In the Grialetschhütte, with 6,000 overnight stays per year, there are 1 to 2 restructurings per year.
How much time is required for regrouping?
Approx. 2 to 4 hours, depending on the size of the hut.
Is a mask required for the turning?
A mask is not necessary. Fresh air is drawn in from the toilet room through the air extractor, so unpleasant odours are kept to a minimum. Rubber boots, gloves and work overalls are recommended.
What should be considered when building the compost room?
It is important that direct access to the room is possible from both outside and inside. The doors must close airtight. The room must be fitted with a sealing film or waterproof coating. A floor drain must drain excess liquid. Please contact Vuna for further planning details.
Does the compost room need to be heated?
The ideal temperature for the worms is between 5 and 25°C. Below this, they become very slow to inactive. Inside the compost heap, they can also survive low outside temperatures. The worm eggs can even freeze and hatch again in spring when temperatures rise. If surplus energy is available in the hut, a heater can be installed in the compost room to keep composting going in winter.
The worms don’t receive any “food” during the unserviced period, how do they survive?
The composting process takes a certain amount of time so that the worms have enough food even over an 8-month winter break. At lower temperatures, the worms also become slower and therefore need less food.
Is there any experience with vermicomposting above 2,600 m?
Until now, the highest hut with vermicomposting facilities was at 2600 m. New dry toilets were installed at the Blüemlisalphütte at 2840 m in October 2023. In the Albert Heim hut at 2500 m, worms were observed in the wild behind the old outhouses. The worms have colonised naturally and survive the winter in the snow and cold.
Who services the dry toilets?
Vuna GmbH offers a complete service in Switzerland for Ecodomeo and Sanisphère dry toilets with conveyor belts. We recommend a service every 3 to 5 years of operation to keep the system in perfect condition.
Can food leftovers be added to the compost room?
We do not recommend adding food scraps to the compost bin, as these attract fruit flies, which are too small to be held back by the fly trap.
What quantity of compost will be harvested?
The amount of compost depends on the number of overnight stays. The volume and mass of feces and toilet paper are decomposed at 80-90%. Reference example: At the Claridenhütte, with approximately 2,000 overnight stays per season, almost two wheelbarrowloads of compost were removed after five years.