A　lab-scale　anaerobic-anoxic-oxic　(A(2)O)　process　used　to　treat　a　synthetic　brewage　wastewater　was　investigated.　The　objectives　of　the　study　were　to　identify　the　existence　of　denitrifying　phosphorus　removing　bacteria　(DPB),　evaluate　the　contribution　of　DPB　to　biological　nutrient　removal　and　enhance　the　denitrifying　phosphorus　removal　in　A(2)O　bioreactors.　Sludge　analysis　confirmed　that　the　average　anoxic　P　uptake　accounted　for　approximately　70%　the　total　amount　of　P　uptake,　and　the　ratio　of　anoxic　P　uptake　rate　to　aerobic　P　uptake　rate　was　69%.　In　addition　nitrate　concentration　in　the　anoxic　phase　and　different　organic　substrate　introduced　into　the　anaerobic　phase　had　significant　effect　on　the　anoxic　P　uptake.　Compared　with　conventional　A(2)O　processes,　good　removal　efficiencies　of　COD,　phosphorus,　ammonia　and　total　nitrogen　(92.3%,　95.5%,　96%　and　79.5%,　respectively)　could　be　achieved　in　the　anoxic　P　uptake　system,　and　aeration　energy　consumption　was　saved　25%.　By　controlling　the　nitrate　recirculation　flow　in　the　anoxic　zone,　anoxic　P　uptake　could　be　enhanced,　which　solved　the　competition　for　organic　substrates　among　poly-P　organisms.and　denitrifiers　successfully　under　the　COD　limiting　conditions.　Therefore,　in　wastewater　treatment　plants　the　control　system　should　be　applied　according　to　the　practical　situation　to　optimize　the　operation.