A method and apparatus for treating radioactive waste water containing
contaminating ions, colloids and suspended solids having like (usually
negative) charges preventing their precipitation. An electric current is
passed through the waste water in an EC assembly to cause
electro-coagulation of the contaminants and anodes of this assembly are
made of a metal that dissolves to provide cations for neutralizing the
negative charges and forming precipitates containing neutralized
contaminants. Precipitates are then separated from waste water by an
electro-magnetic or other filtering unit. The water pH and conductivity
may be adjusted before the EC assembly and additives may be introduced
into its effluent for enlargement of precipitate particles, improvement
of filtration, improvement of dewaterability, and/or enhancement of
magnetism.