The simultaneous removal of phosphates, Zn2+and Orange II, in two synthetic wastewaters was achieved usingAl–Mg and Al–Zn–In alloys as anodes at 11.7 mA cm–2and a surface area to volume ratio of 19.0 m–1. Higherremoval efficiencies were obtained with Al–Zn–In, attaining values of 95–96% for phosphate, 99% for Zn2+and88–96% for Orange II, while somewhat lower values were seen with Al–Mg, with 89–93% for phosphate, 96%for Zn2+and 50–60% for Orange II, depending on the solution. The higher efficiency with Al–Zn–In was at-tributed to its less passive behaviour, which was evident from polarisation plots. Numerous shallow pits, re-sembling general–like dissolution, were seen with Al–Zn–In, while fewer and larger pits were observed withAl–Mg. The energy demand for the removal of the pollutants was computed as 1.30 and 2.55 kWh m–3for theAl–Zn–In and Al–Mg anodes, respectively. The removal of phosphates and Orange II was explained in terms ofthe generation of cationic polynuclear aluminium species that provide electrostatic interactions with the anionicphosphates and Orange II. The removal of Zn2+was attributed to the formation of insoluble Zn(OH)2.