Our company is Swedish
exclusive Hungarian distributor of the brand.
Welcome to the Clivus Multrum distributor page!
With over 20,000 composting toilets installed worldwide, Clivus Multrum is the clear market leader. Clivus Multrum is a self-contained, waterless and odourless toilet treatment system. It uses no chemicals, heat or water and has no polluting emissions. It can save up to 60,000 litres of water per year in an average household and costs significantly less than traditional treatment systems. It is based on one of the oldest natural principles – organic decomposition. Clivus Multrum is 100% natural – without chemicals! Clivus Multrum offers composting toilet solutions for private homes, public institutions, offices and outdoor locations.
The history of Clivus Multrum
In 1939, Rikard Lindström wanted his family to be able to swim in the bay next to their house without having to worry about sewage pollution. Finding the existing toilet system unreliable, he built the first Clivus Multrum on his own property. Sweden was thus blessed with a completely environmentally friendly new invention.
Interested neighbors also noticed Rikard Lindström's ideas, and a small-scale production began. Kurt Atterberg, a patent engineer and one of Sweden's most famous composers, persuaded Rikard Lindström to file a patent application.
The patent was filed in the 1960s under the name Clivus, which means slope in Latin. Today, the product is called Clivus Multrum. The term “Multrum” was coined by Sven E. Arrhenius, a professor at the Stockholm University of Veterinary Medicine. In his opinion, “Multrum”, meaning place of decomposition, complements and explains the concept of Clivus well. Rikard Lindström died in 1993, but his name lives on. His closed system saves water and prevents toilet waste from polluting water sources. We still have a long way to go before his invention reaches the millions of people who still lack clean water and proper toilets.
"Simple but brilliant" - Sörmlands News (June 1971)
Technology/The composting process
How does Clivus Multrum work?
Clivus Multrum uses nature's processes to break down feces and urine into a stable, odorless end product. The composting process follows a natural biological process. It requires good ventilation and some humidity, which is important for the microorganisms to work.
The process is aerobic and occurs over a wide temperature range (even when the outside temperature is well below freezing), unlike anaerobic processes that produce methane gas (swamp gas) and occur at higher temperatures – this process does not occur in the Clivus Multrum installation.
To start the composting process, a starter bed is placed, consisting of peat, wood chips, and soil, and organisms that are important to the process are added. Occasionally, as the installation is used, additional wood chips or carbon-rich material are added to keep the compost porous, which is important for filtering liquids and aerating solids.
Warning: Do not use pressure-treated wood chips, hardwoods such as oak, or resinous woods such as spruce. Do not use newspaper, leaves, or long grass, which can form a sticky substance. On the other hand, regular toilet paper can be used.
The compost
Most of the solid organic matter is converted into carbon dioxide and water and then evaporates. After 5-10 years, only a small amount of the final product remains, which contains minerals similar to those found in ordinary soil. If the use is proportional to the size of the container, the compost can remain in the container for several decades. The processed compost can be removed from the container and used as soil in the garden.
The leachate
The liquid (mainly from the breakdown of urine) undergoes an important biochemical transformation. It passes through the composting pile and starter bed, then flows down the sloping bottom of the tank. When it finally reaches the storage chamber, it is transformed into a stable, odorless, saline solution. This is a balanced, high-nitrogen liquid fertilizer that is beneficial for grass, trees and flowers. The liquid must be diluted with water before use. The leachate is biologically stable and can be stored if needed.
Ventilation
Air is drawn into the composting chamber through the toilet bowl. This airflow is necessary to keep the bathroom free of unpleasant odors and to provide oxygen for the composting process.
Pathogens
Disease-causing pathogens found in feces and urine are destroyed by soil bacteria and other organisms during the composting process.
The fluids undergo a nitrification process. The result is a brownish, pathogen-free fluid that is rich in ammonium nitrite and ammonium nitrate and has a slight earthy odor. Over the years, Clivus Multrum has regularly analyzed samples from its installations (see Test Results). Customers can request analysis of samples taken from their own Clivus Multrum system.
Test results
The following test results are from samples taken from the Clivus Multrum facility in Susedalen, along the E6 motorway in Sweden. The results are from samples taken on February 3, 2011 and December 7, 2010.
Installation
The diagram below shows a typical Clivus Multrum installation using an M150 composting tank, a CL400 toilet bowl and a CK100 built-in fan.
We will provide a quote for materials and installation depending on the specific conditions on site. Please contact us if you are considering installing a Clivus Multrum. We also offer complete turnkey installations, including cabins, through our partners.
Reference projects
The Archipelago Foundation
The Stockholm Archipelago is a beautiful area in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Stockholm, consisting of thousands of small islands.
The Archipelago Foundation (Skärgårdstiftelsen) was founded in 1959 and owns and manages approximately 15% of the archipelago's total area of over 1,000 km² with the aim of preserving the archipelago's natural and cultural heritage.
In 2006–2007, as part of an EU project aimed at improving island toilets, Clivus Multrum installed more than 40 toilet facilities on islands accessible by ferry.
Susedalen, E6 motorway service area
The Susedalen service area is located along the E6 motorway, south of Falkenberg in southwestern Sweden, and is operated by the Swedish Road Administration (Trafikverket). It was opened by King Carl XVI Gustaf in November 1996.
Environmental protection was an important consideration when designing the service area. For example, surface water from the road will be collected in catchments to protect surrounding areas from road salt contamination.
The toilets are made with stainless steel fittings that connect to Clivus Multrum units located in the basement.
Because the service area attracted more visitors than originally estimated, Clivus Multrum rebuilt the facility in 2003. It is now sized to accommodate hundreds of visitors per day.
Bronx Zoo Eco-Restroom (New York)
A Bronx Állatkert 1899 óta oktatja és szórakoztatja a látogatókat. Az állatkert 256 hektáros területe az Egyesült Államok legnagyobb városi állatkertjévé teszi. Évente kétmillió látogatót fogad, és több mint négyezer állat otthona. A Wildlife Conservation Society tulajdonában és üzemeltetésében áll, amely erős hangsúlyt fektet a környezetvédelemre. Ez a fókusz megjelent a társaság állatkertjeiben alkalmazott fenntartható építési gyakorlatokban is.
The restrooms near the Bronxdale entrance had to be replaced due to a failing sewage treatment system. A new sewage treatment system was rejected due to the potential for contamination of the nearby Bronx River. A sewer connection was also considered, but was discarded due to the enormous cost of tunneling under the Bronx River Parkway.
Instead, the zoo decided to install a Clivus Multrum composting toilet system, which includes 10 composters. Clivus systems not only save money, but they also capture and recycle nutrients from human waste and use only minimal water for flushing.
The Eco-Restroom welcomes over half a million visitors annually. The 15-flush toilet uses only 6 ounces of water per use, saving over a million gallons of water annually compared to traditional low-flow (1.6 gpf) toilets.
The DANO project
Dalsland and Nordmarken, an area in central Sweden with many lakes and rivers, offers great canoeing experiences and attracts many tourists from Sweden and abroad. Sanitation around the campsites was a major challenge as the existing facilities could not handle the traffic, which led to pollution of the surrounding areas. Since its opening in 2000, the DANO area has developed 103 campsites with over 140 operational Clivus Multrum installations.
Frequently asked questions
How does Clivus Multrum work?
The Clivus Multrum is a composting toilet. The wastewater in the Clivus Multrum is composted over a long period of time using microorganisms, ventilation and humidity. The process takes several years. You can find more information in the "Technology" section.
What is the difference between the Clivus Multrum and a small eco-friendly toilet?
The Clivus Multrum tank has a large capacity, so the wastewater is completely composted in it. This takes about 6 years. A smaller toilet does not have enough volume for complete composting, so the wastewater must be removed regularly and treated properly (not released directly into the environment).
Who is Clivus Multrum a suitable solution for?
Clivus Multrum is ideal where there is no or limited water supply or where traditional sewage networks are not available. Clivus Multrum is also the perfect alternative for those who want to save thousands of liters of water.
What are the benefits of using Clivus Multrum?
On-site wastewater treatment
No need for sewage transport
No water consumption (when using an open system toilet bowl)
Very low maintenance requirements
Low energy consumption (no power required when used without a fan)
Are there any disadvantages?
The container is relatively large, but this volume is necessary for complete composting.
In a waterless installation, the toilet bowl opening is larger than that of a traditional toilet. However, there are alternatives that have a standard opening, but these use a small amount of water.
What should you pay attention to before buying Clivus Multrum?
The first step is to consider how much wastewater you will need to process, as this will determine the size of your composting tank. It is also important to consider the location of the toilet bowl and composting tank. Finally, the Clivus Multrum requires a minimum of 1.3 meters (for M100) of space below the bathroom floor to be installed. For more information, see the “Installation” section.
What are the financial benefits?
The operating costs of Clivus Multrum are very low and there are no wastewater transport or disposal costs.
Do I need a permit to install Clivus Multrum?
As a general rule, no permit is required, but it is worth checking with your local municipality.
Why is it worth buying from Clivus Multrum?
Clivus Multrum is the original solution. We have over 70 years of experience. If you follow the instructions we provide, we guarantee that your Clivus Multrum system will work properly.
Interest
Please consider the questions in the downloadable pdf before ordering! If you have the opportunity, scan or photograph it and send it back to us at vegh.marcella@hidroconsulting.hu so that we can help you choose the right products!