Nutrient and dissolved organic carbon removal from natural waters using industrial by-products

► The CaO-based WTR effectively removed DOC and P in column trials and had a high P sorption capacity. ► Granular activated carbon attenuated organic contaminants but was unsuitable for P attenuation. ► Fly ash removed a suite of both inorganic and organic nutrients and DOC from water but released Se. ► By-products may mitigate eutrophication through targeted use in nutrient intervention schemes.