Three system types are available:

• Gravity-flow vermifilter: This requires no energy to operate and irrigates crops down hill of the effluent source.
• Single-pass vermifilter: This uses a single pump, followed by gravity flow.
• Recirculating vermifilter: This uses recirculation pumps to pass wastewater through a vermifilter multiple times.

System design also needs to consider level of treatment required and whether only primary treatment of the effluent is required (removal of solids followed by disposal to soak pit or soakage trenches) or whether secondary treatment is required (producing an effluent quality suitable for surface irrigation).