The performance of novel chitosan-poly(vinyl alcohol) gel beads was evaluated removing lead, cadmium and chromium from mining-influenced groundwater (MIGW) under hydrodynamic conditions employing column sorption experiments. To elicit the efficiency of the synthesized materials, the sorbent bed height within the packed column and volumetric flow were varied; the column configuration was changed using packed and fluidized arrangements. The fluidized bed configuration presented higher sorption efficiency for Pb, Cd and Cr ions than the fixed bed configuration: 78%, 52% and 62% against 60%, 35% and 37%. The packed bed data were processed using the Clark, Dose-Response, Yoon-Nelson and Woldborska models. The best fitting was obtained with the Dose-Response model. The experimental output confirmed the effective reduction of the harmful metals in MIGW at a very short breakthrough time from 3 to 15 min, which is strategic due to the global effects on both human health and environment.