Reverse osmosis (RO) with polyamide membrane of spiral wound and precipitation with commercial sodium carbonate were studied to remove hazardous substances [chromium(III), sulfate, chloride and sodium] contained in a tanning wastewater. RO removed chromium(III) very efficiently (99.83%) and with lower but appreciable yields the other three constituents of liquid effluent. Major inconvenience of RO was fast decrease of permeate flux due to insufficient transmembrane pressure used. In turn, 99.71% of chromium(III) was separated with precipitation.