Hydrogel consists of structural units that are either amphiphilic or hydrophilic, organized into interconnected macroscopic networks. Hydrogels are three-dimensional systems formed by chains of hydrophilic polymers. They hold water without undergoing dissociation. Polymer chain cross-linking may occur through chemical means (covalent bonding) or physical means (hydrogen bonding or hydrophobic interactions). PVA, PEG, and polyacrylic acid are prevalent examples of synthetic polymer-based gels. Toxic metal ions and many hazardous substances from several sectors perpetually contaminate the air, water, and soil. Numerous approaches have been extensively utilized to eliminate heavy metal ions. The techniques encompass membrane filtration (including nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and electrodialysis), coagulation and flocculation, ion exchange, adsorption, and chemical precipitation (comprising sulfide, oxide, and chelating precipitation), among others. We evaluated and contrasted the efficacy of the hydrogels in removing Fe3+, Cr3+, and Hg2+ ions from solution through diffusion, coordination bond formation, and electrostatic interactions. The poly (AAm) hydrogel has a significant ability to eliminate heavy metal ions owing to its moderately acidic AAc groups. The hydrogel samples’ capacity to release and recuperate heavy metal ions is equally remarkable. Hydrogels demonstrated a markedly enhanced compressive strength following the incorporation of heavy metal ions, hence broadening their potential applications across several industries.