Twelve small-scale intermittent sand filters were loaded with primary effluent under field conditions. The depth of sand used was 381 mm, shallower than typical. The effects of hydraulic loading rate, dosing frequency, media size, and uniformity coefficient on the performance of the filters were observed for 86 days. Hydraulic loading rates ranged from 41 to 652 L/m2-d and dosing frequencies were 4, 12 and 24 times/day. The effective size of the media ranged from 0.29 to 0.93 mm. Uniformity coefficients of 4.52 and 1.42 were used. Removal of turbidity, total suspended solids, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, organic nitrogen, and ammonia were used as a measure of performance. More than 90 percent removal of all parameters except chemical oxygen demand was achieved in the shallow sand filters at a hydraulic loading rate of 163 L/m2-d when dosed at 12 or 24 times/day regardless of media size.