Abstract: Water clarification systems and methods of clarifying water. An example system uses a water clarifier comprising a settling tank with a sample port disposed in a wall of the settling tank from and configured to allow for the removal of a sludge sample from the settling tank. The system additionally has a fluid characterization unit fluidically coupled to the sample port and a controller coupled to the fluid characterization unit. A chemical additive pump is coupled to the controller and the water clarifier. A sludge sample is obtained from the settling tank of a water clarifier and the density of the sludge sample is measured. A volume of a chemical additive is adjusted and it is introduced into the water clarifier based at least in part on the measured density of the sludge sample.