Large portions of domestic wastewater in small and remote communities are discharged into the environment without effective treatment. In areas with low population densities and dispersed households, wastewater system strategies are needed which are environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. A wastewater treatment technique known as a multi-soil-layering (MSL) system is shown to be a promising wastewater treatment and disposal method. A full-scale, land-based approach developed from the most recent efforts in this emerging field is described. A brief description of the mechanisms in the treatment process within the MSL system, as well as the design and operation for the MSL system, are provided. The state-of-the-art and development trends of MSL process for the wastewater treatment are further introduced.