Abstract: The River Cauvery is considered to be the main source of drinking water supply. Deterioration of drinking water quality continues to be a major problem. Hence, the present study aimed at analyzing toxic metals such as Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni) and Lead (Pb) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer in the surface water and sediment collected from twenty different locations of river Cauvery. The mean concentrations of Pb, Cr and Cd in water exceeded the permissible limit and concentrations of Ni, Cr and Pd showed contamination of sediment samples of river Cauvery. The study on the Pollution Load Index (PLI) has also confirmed low to moderate level of contamination. The correlation between metals and hazard quotient revealed significant health risk to the local human population by Pb through intake of water. Acute risk to aquatic organisms due to Pb and Cd concentration in water from the study area is also predicted.