To　enhance　nutrient　removal　performance　and　reduce　disposal　amount　of　waste　activated　sludge　(WAS),　a　pilot-scale　continuous　system　consisting　of　a　2-step　sludge　alkaline　fermentation　process　and　an　A(2)O　reactor　was　proposed.　The　feasibility　of　WAS　reducing　and　resourcing　by　alkaline　fermentation　was　investigated.　Volatile　fatty　acids　(VFA)　yield　was　higher　under　alkaline　condition　than　that　under　acidic　condition.　Through　2-step　alkaline　fermentation,　substantial　VFA　was　accumulated,　and　then　elutriated　out　continuously　from　an　up-flow　column　by　domestic　wastewater.　The　results　showed　that　38.2%　of　sludge　was　hydrolyzed,　19.7%　was　finally　acidified　into　VFA,　and　as　high　as　42.1%　of　WAS　was　reduced.　Moreover,　after　introducing　the　fermentation　liquids　with　higher　proportion　of　acetic　acid　and　propionic　acid　into　the　A(2)O　reactor,　the　total　nitrogen　and　phosphorus　removal　efficiencies　reached　to　80.1%　and　90.0%,　respectively.　Sludge　reduction　and　enhanced　nutrient　removal　could　be　achieved　simultaneously　in　the　proposed　system.　(C)　2010　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.