Vermifiltration has been implemented on a full-scale in various countries, including China, Germany, France, India, Rwanda, the USA and Switzerland. One example in Switzerland is the vermifiltration installation at the housing cooperative, Equilibre, in Geneva, which treats wastewater from 100 habitants. Despite growing implementation, an optimised design model for building and operating vermifiltration has not yet been scientifically defined. Additionally, as the majority of the scientific research remains at a laboratory scale, the effects of both scaling-up and long-term use on the treatment efficiency of vermifiltration is lacking. The lack of scientific knowledge is a barrier that impedes vermifiltration from being used more widely in Switzerland and globally. 

Developing scientific standards

The vermifiltration research project at the University of Geneva is co-supervised by Dr. Linda Strande, Group Leader of the Management of Excreta, Wastewater and Sludge research group of the Department of Water, Sanitation and Solid Waste for Development (Sandec) at the aquatic research institute Eawag. It began in February 2022 and the first step was a study that evaluated the treatment performance of a full-scale vermifilter at the housing cooperative Equilibre in Geneva. Study results show that the effluent quality remains stable even with varying hourly hydraulic loading rates and with seasonal temperature changes. In addition, it was observed that the vermifilter buffers outdoor temperatures, which may explain how it can function well despite the colder climate observed in winter.

The next steps in the ongoing research include analysing greenhouse gas emissions, micropollutant treatment, nitrogen and phosphorus fates and the use of the effluent for irrigation. The results of this study aim to better understand the overall treatment mechanisms that are taking place during vermifiltration. These results are necessary in creating an optimised design model, as well as for ensuring treatment efficiency of future installations. Vermifiltration could be a boon for municipalities because it offers a low-cost, sustainable wastewater treatment system.
 

Cover picture: Rooftop garden of the housing cooperative Equilibre in Geneva, irrigated with treated wastewater (Photo: Eawag, Kayla Coppens).
 

Singh, R., et al., 'Vermifiltration as a sustainable natural treatment technology for the treatment and reuse of wastewater: A review', Journal of Environmental Management, 247 (2019), 140-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.06.075

Samal, K., et al., 'Treatment of wastewater by vermifiltration integrated with macrophyte filter: A review.', Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 5/3 (2017), 2274-2289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2017.04.026

Chowdhury, S.D., et al., 'Sustainability assessment of vermifiltration technology for treating domestic sewage: A review.', Journal of Water Process Engineering, 50 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103266

Council Directive 91/271/EEC of 21 May, 1991 Concerning Urban Waste Water Treatment (The Council of the European Communities, 1991). http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/1991/271/oj

Exigences fixées aux stations d’épuration aérobies de faible capacité. (VSA, 2006).

• Eawag
• Valoo, Schweiz
• aneco, Schweiz