In this study, the effect of drinking water treatment residuals (WTRs), non-hazardous byproducts from drinking water treatment plants, on anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) in lake sediments were investigated, qualitatively and quantitatively based on enrichment tests. The results suggested that after the enrichment, anammox were strengthened significantly in enriched sediments with no WTRs (ESNW) and with WTRs (ESW). Comparatively, anammox bacteria in ESW were more aggregated than ESNW. The activity (9.2 nmol g(-1) h(-1)) and abundance (9.8 x 10(7) copies g(-1)) of anammox bacteria in ESW were also higher than ESNW (6.1 nmol g(-1) h(-1) and 8.9 x 10(7) copies g(-1)). Further analysis suggested that after enrichment, anammox bacteria in sediments were phylogenetically more distant from Candidatus Kuenenia; anammox bacteria in ESW were closely related to Candidatus Brocadia. Overall, WTRs promoted aggregation, strengthened activity and increased abundance of anammox bacteria in lake sediments. Therefore, WTRs can enhance anammox in lake sediments. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.