Abstract
Heavy metals are vital elements responsible for water pollution worldwide, these pollutants are commonly found in the groundwater. They enter in the water system through different sources like application of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals in the agriculture field, untreated wastewater from industries, and intervention in seawater due to intensive pumping. Very recent and frequently reported residual portion of heavy metals (cadmium, lead chromium, and arsenic) in the water available on the surface of the earth and wastewater and recent studies on the heavy metal removal from wastewater are also given in this review. Almost all the heavy metals with the remedials parameter such as types of adsorbent, operating parameters' percentage removal or highest adsorption capability, and types of adsorption and kinetic models are properly summarized. The concentrations of these elements were within or above permissible limits as per standards of drinking water quality in the ground/surface water. Considering the environment and human threat, it is very necessary to protect the quality of ground/surface water by eliminating the causes of pollution by developing metal removal techniques to provide clean and metal-free water for humans.