The adsorption of heavy metals in the waste water carried out on the various domestic clays and waste pottery. The effect of parameters such as pH, temperature, adsorption time and coexisting cations on the adsorption ability and characteristics were investigated to find out whether the clays could be used as adsorbents. Adsorption equilibrium was reached within 20 minutes on all the clays. The optimum pH was found to be above 5. When other cations such as Cu(II) or Zn(II) coexisted with Pb(II), the adsorption amount of Pb(II) decreased because of competing adsorption.