A method is taught for producing freely draining flocculated sediment from a suspension comprising finely divided solids in water. The method comprises dispersing, at increasing concentrations, a charged particle hybrid polymer (CPHP) flocculant into the suspension to determine a minimum concentration of CPHP flocculant above which a freely draining flocculated sediment is produced that has a minimum permeability of 1 Darcy. Then, the concentration of dispersed CPHP flocculant in the suspension is maintained at or above the minimum concentration.A method is further provided for separating fine solids and water from a suspension comprising finely divided solids in water. The method involves dispersing, at increasing concentrations, a charged particle hybrid polymer (CPHP) flocculant into the suspension to determine a minimum concentration of CPHP flocculant above which a freely draining flocculated sediment is produced that has a minimum permeability of 1 Darcy. Then, the concentration of dispersed CPHP flocculant in the suspension is maintained at or above the minimum concentration. The dispersion of CPHP flocculant in the suspension is agitated and the solid floccules are then separated from the supernatant liquid.