This study aims to assess the spatial variation, water quality status, and human health risks of heavy metal(oid)s in the urban water of the Shyamasundari canal, northern Bangladesh. The results showed that Fe, Mn, and Pb concentrations in the canal water were found to be in the range of 0.4–2.3, 0.9–1.8, and 0.001–0.3 mg/L, surpassing the standard water quality values. About 79.56% of the samples were deemed as non-suitable to poor water quality for drinking. The contamination factor (CF), the degree of contamination (CD) and the pollution index (PLI) showed that urban water is highly contaminated in the studied canal. The health risk results showed that the hazard index exceeded the admissible limit (>1) for all age groups, indicating adverse non-carcinogenic risk, in particular for sites S5 and S9. Overall, the results suggest that exposure to surface water may negatively impact the health of individuals living nearby, emphasizing the need for strict regulation and efficient management to monitor and assess Fe, Mn, and Pb at these sites.