Effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WTP) can contain residual phosphorus concentration above the recommended limiting values and it could have a high environmental impact (e.g. eutrophication as a result of excess nutrients). In order to produce an effluent suitable for stream discharge, electrochemical techniques have been explored at the laboratory pilot scale, for total phosphorus (P-tot) removal from spiked municipal wastewater (MWW). The MWW was an effluent provided from a biofiltration process installed at the Quebec Urban Community WTP. The effects of current density, retention time and initial P-tot concentration were investigated using a bipolar electrolytic cell made of mild steel electrodes. Effectiveness was measured in terms of P-tot reduction. The amount of residual sludge produced and energy consumed have been also considered. Results showed that the best performances of P removal from MWW were obtained while combining electrocoagulation with flocculation. Under optimal conditions, electrolysis was operated at a current density of 38.2 mA/cm(2) through 20 min of treatment and then, the electrocoagulated-effluent was flocculated using a cationic polymer (10 mg/l) before filtration. At least, 97% of P-tot was removed regardless of the initial P-tot concentration imposed (5.0-50 mg/l) in MWW. The optimal conditions determined for P-tot removal, including energy consumption, electrode consumption and metallic sludge disposal, involved a total cost varying from 0.24 to 0.35 $CAN per cubic meter of treated MWW in continue mode operation. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.