Sustainability of good health depends upon the purity of water. However, groundwater may be exposed towards to contamination by various anthropogenic activities such as agricultural, domestic and industrial. The groundwater quality problem is typically associated with high level of heavy metal concentration in Chrompet, Chennai. The importance of removal of heavy metals from drinking water has received significant attention of researchers and decision makers across the globe. The present study is focused on critical review of the current available information on potential of untreated and treated ground water with rice husk, tartaric acid, and desiccant silica gel for the removal of heavy metals. Various studies on the adsorption efficiency of rice husk considering the parameters contact adsorbent dose (rice husk), initial concentration of heavy metals and pH, have been evaluated by many researchers. The present study analyzed the adsorption efficiency of rice husk in the removalof heavy metal and concluded that treated rice husk gave a comparatively better adsorption efficiency of heavy metals.