Abstract: A method of electro treating tailings in a containment structure to cause a separation of at least some water from said tailings and a consolidation and compaction of at least some solid particles is shown. The method includes placing a plurality of first electrodes in the tailings to be treated generally along one side of a predetermined volume and placing a plurality of second electrodes in the tailings to be treated generally along an opposite side of said volume to the plurality of first electrodes, said first and second electrodes being spaced apart by a predetermined distance. The next step is applying a treatment current across said distance between said spaced first and second electrodes to create an electrical field which causes solids to consolidate at one of said plurality of first and second electrodes; and creating a geotechnical structure within said volume comprised of dewatered solids consolidated from said tailings around one of said electrodes.