Arsenic is one of the most serious pollutants in the environment that mainly pollutes water bodies. It comes from natural sources such as weathering reactions, volcanic eruptions, geothermal reactions, etc., as well as anthropogenic sources such as mining, combustion of fossil fuels, pesticides, etc. The presence of arsenic in drinking water at levels higher than those permitted by the World Health Organization can lead to chronic and fatal diseases like cancer, peripheral neuropathy, renal damage, cardiovascular disorders, etc. Arsenic in any form, organic or inorganic, has a very negative impact on human health though the degree of toxicity varies. Despite the many innovations with regard to the removal of arsenic from water bodies, the exhaustive removal of arsenic remains a challenge. The most commonly used conventional methods of arsenic removal include chemical precipitation, ion exchange, electrocoagulation, nanoparticle-based removal, bioremediation, etc. Although such methods are being implemented in practice, there is always a need to look for cost-effective measures since many of the countries facing a serious threat from arsenic come from the developing or underdeveloped category. In recent times there has been a surge in the number of reports citing cost-effective and environment-friendly methods for treating arsenic-contaminated waters. The methods include the use of Fe-based metal–organic framework, biocomposite filters with nanocrystalline iron oxides in lignocellulose scaffolds, use of microbial consortia, phytoremediation supported by endophytic microbes, use of hydrochar with nanoparticles, etc. Most of these strategies are clever blends of existing procedures that show synergistic effects. However, the variable forms of arsenic and the range of environmental components, especially water bodies, to be ridden off this contaminant leads to challenges in universal implementation of most of the methods. The intelligent application of these technologies can help to better dealing with the problem of arsenic contamination.