To evaluate the effectiveness of apatite minerals in removing different contaminants, from low quality water in the industrial city of abha, Asir region, southwestern of Saudi Arabia, two phosphatic clay dominated by apatite mineral were selected. In situ remediation experiment proved that apatite mineral has the highest affinity for Pb and removed more than 94% from initial Pb concentration. The rest of contaminants followed the descending order of: Zn < Mn 2+sorption. This is suggested that Pb²⁺retention by apatite was through the dissolution of apatite which mean release of Ca and P into solution and formation of pyromorphite (lead phosphate) as consuming of P. Obtained results suggested two general mechanisms for the ability of apatite mineral to take up Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺and Mn²⁺. The first is (ion – ion exchange mechanism) concerned with adsorption of ions on the solid surface followed by their diffusion into apatite mineral and the release of cations originally contained within apatite. The second is (dissolution – precipitation mechanism) concerned to the dissolution of apatite in the aqueous solution containing Pb²⁺, Zn²⁺and Mn²⁺followed by the precipitation or coprecipitation. Pb²⁺desorption responding to solution pH may indicate that not all the Pb⁺² was chemisorbed and fraction of Pb²⁺ was weakly adsorbed or complexed on the surface of apatite mineral.