Land application is becoming an increasingly accepted method of wastewater disposition. In contrast to conventional stream discharges of treated effluent, land application is a form of recycling which offers crop irrigation, replenishment of groundwater supplies and pollution control. The “Living Filter” at Pennsylvania State University was one of the first such systems in the United States, and is probably the best documented system in the world. The system was first conceived as a cost-effective way to restore ground-water levels and meet pollution-control requirements. Two decades of research have substantiated the favorable effects of the system on water supplies, water quality and crop production. Its successs has been due partly to its physical relationships to the community it serves, the region where it is located, and the natural environment in which it operates. Such relationships are critical for planners attempting to conceive optimum wastewater systems in their own communities. The well-documented example of the Living Filter can be useful to planners seeking wastewater alternatives that will fill the needs of their local environments. This article surveys how the Living Filter fits into the geography and resources of its community and region. The effects of land-cover types, application rates, climate, soils, topography, nutrients, heavy metals, effluent composition, application rates, mechanical hardware, costs, land availability, sludge disposal, and monitoring programs are all discussed.