The invention relates to a method for reducing phosphorus in effluent or filtrate from a process which comprises at least one stage in which conditions are acidic, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a) obtaining a first portion of an effluent or filtrate from a stage in which conditions are acidic; b) obtaining a second portion of an effluent or filtrate from the same or different stage in which conditions are acidic; c) adjusting pH of the first portion of the effluent or filtrate to alkaline with an alkaline agent; d) allowing phosphorus to be precipitated in form of a phosphate salt; e) separating the precipitate to produce purified effluent or filtrate; and f) combining the purified effluent or filtrate with the second portion of the effluent or filtrate. The process may be a chemical pulping process in which pulp is cooked in a digestion apparatus (1), washed in a washing apparatus (2), bleached in a bleaching apparatus (3) in which an acidic bleaching stage (3') takes place, after which the pulp is separated in a separation apparatus (4) from an acidic effluent or filtrate which is divided into the first and second portions of effluent or filtrate. The invention also relates to the corresponding chemical pulping and purification apparatus.