Disclosed and claimed is a method for improving the froth quality and bitumen recovery in primary bitumen extraction processes by coagulant addition in the underwash feed water. Preferred coagulants are cationic or amphoteric polymers. Coagulant addition in the underwash feed water reduces the solids content reporting to the primary bitumen froth in a primary separation vessel (PSC). This treatment program can also be combined with dispersant addition in the dilution make-up feed water into a PSC. Preferred dispersants are low molecular weight anionic polymers.