Addition of aluminum reagents to sulfate-containing waste stream reduce sulfate concentration

The invention provides methods and compositions for detection and removal of sulfate from a liquid. The method provides much faster removal of sulfate than the prior art does and does so while requiring the use of far less aluminum. The method involves sequentially adding an acidic to neutral pH generating aluminum agent to the liquid, an alkaline pH generating aluminum agent to the liquid, after having added the acidic to neutral pH generating aluminum agent, and an alkaline calcium agent to the liquid. The most efficient rate possible can be obtained by also using a flourophore to precisely determine the amount of sulfate in the liquid.