Aluminium-based water treatment sludge was used as a coagulant for removing/recovering phosphate from the effluent of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor treating municipal wastewater. The effect of three variables, namely sludge dose, initial pH and fresh coagulant (poly-aluminium chloride, PACl) dose was studied using response surface methodology. About 87% phosphate removal could be obtained at the optimum conditions of sludge dose 13.8 g/L, initial pH 6, and fresh PACl dose 5.8 mg Al/L. In order to achieve a similar phosphate removal, a dose in the range of 30-40 mgAl/L of fresh PACl was required. The results suggest that water treatment sludge can be reused as a coagulant for post-treatment of UASB reactor effluent treating municipal wastewater and can be considered as a promising alternative for removing phosphate which can substantially reduce the consumption of fresh PACl. The sludge generated during this process could potentially be used in land application which results in recycling of phosphate. (C) 2015 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.