Abstract: Methods for treating aqueous/sedimentary systems, sediments and soils are disclosed for prevention of activation and for control or clean-up. The method involves intentionally adding to an aqueous system containing unwanted sulfur and phosphorus in the water and hydrocarbons in the sediment, iron species selected from the group consisting of elemental iron, iron carbonates and iron oxides. Iron-phosphorus compounds and iron-sulfur compounds are precipitated and thereby removed from the system. Hydrocarbons are convened into water, carbon dioxide and small amounts of methane. In a practice of this invention, propagation of aquatic vegetation dependent upon phosphorus species and sulfur species is inhibited by the removal of these species therefrom. Heavy metals are inactivated.

Abstract: Generation of Fe.sup.+2 for water treatment and treatment process using a microbe capable of converting Fe.sup.+3 to Fe.sup.+2 wherein the microbe is selected from ATCC 55339.