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This paper outlines comprehensive design principles for drip irrigation disposal of secondary treated (20 CBOD/20 TSS) effluent from domestic and other wastewater treatment systems. This study is based on an assumption that the merits of drip irrigation technology are inadequately understood and appreciated because the technical requirements for effective drip irrigation systems and the technology available for meeting these guidelines are inadequately known to those in the on-site wastewater industry. Key sections of the paper deal with the following: 1) soils and design implications for drip irrigation systems, 2) soil loading rate determination, 3) drip irrigation system design parameters and components, 4) system operation and controls, 5) drip irrigation field layout considerations, and 6) typical sources of failure and their avoidance. The emphasis of our project was the development of a comprehensive drip irrigation manual (Netafim, 2001) and included input from scientists, engineers, equipment providers, managers, and clients of drip irrigation systems. This paper highlights the key principles essential for design of drip irrigation systems for the on-site wastewater field. It provides an examination of the critical historic problems that have hindered the development of drip irrigation as a cost-effective, low risk wastewater disposal technology.