<p>This study attempts to reveal the natural function of phosphorus removal in the Abukwma River mainstream by the inflow of a tributary stream, the Ara River, which originates from volcanic mountain regions. We conducted laboratory experiments to identify the ability of phosphorus removal by the mixture of the tributary and mainstream water. We found a significant amount of phosphate-phosphorus is removed by the suspended sediments (SS) contained in the tributary water. The reduction in phosphate-phosphorus was attributed to the adsorption to soil particles and/or flocculation. Using XRF and SEM-EDX, we identified the major component of the SS is aluminium oxides, thus indicating the SS plays important role in water quality control in the Abukuma River.</p>