Civil defence organizations are dedicated to protect civilians from military attacks and providing rescue services after widespread disasters. Switzerland takes this task very seriously and has one of the best civil defence systems.
Civilian shelters
In the 1960s, Switzerland has built enough underground shelters to protect its entire population. However, as year went by, the civilien shelters in houses became more of a private fitness or extra storage room. Some of the shelters are still regulated by law. It applies to public institutions like schools, goverment buildings or hospitals. For the citizans it states to have at least one shelter accessible near home. There are more than 300 000 shelters in private houses and 5 100 in public buildings. Together they could protect 8.6 million people.
The law also regulates facilities necessary for the shelter, one of which is a dry toilet.
VÚSAPL, a.s. has started a cooperation with Iporex, a.s. 20 years ago in the field of plastics and fabrication. This cooperation results in fabrication of these dry toilets that are part of FEKO system. These dry toilets have to meet the criteria stated by Swiss law, where can be found full requirements on utillity and conditions. Swiss civil defence controls these products and if they are verified with positive result, the product recieve a certificate that is updated on regular basis.
Dry toilet
This type of toilet does not require any water or chemicals. It consits of a plastic bucket, a bowl and a bucket seat. The whole toilet may be closed by plastic cover which is than clipped to the bucket by four metal clips.
To full its full use, it is necessary to equipe the toilet by a plastic bag. This bag is put into the bowl. After it use, the bag is taken out of the bowl and knotted. The bag and its content is than put into the bucket and closed under the bowl.
The bucket needs to be emptied at any possible time.
Dry toilets has already been sent to Switzerland. If you pass by one of these strange buckets during the time you spend in Switzerland on holiday or other occasion, there is a fair possibility that the dry toilets were made in Slovakia.