An investigation was made to evaluate the ability of weed species for nickel, copper, iron and zinc accumulation growing in various contaminated drain sites of Jabalpur and adjoining areas. The major weed flora in drains were Alternanthera philoxeroides, Polygonum persicaria, Commelina communis, Alternanthera sessilis, Ludwigia adscendens, Mollugo verticillata and Amaranthus viridis. The mean copper content observed in waste water exceeded the limit whereas nickel, iron and zinc were below the permissible limit. The sequence of concentration of heavy metals in waste water was in the order of iron > zinc > copper > nickel. Among the weed species A. philoxeroides accumulated higher nickel (26 μg/g ) and zinc (553 μg/g ) content followed by M. verticillata (24 μg/g Ni) and A. viridis (488 μg/g Zn). The M. verticillata accumulated higher copper contant (94 μg/g) whereas Convolvulus arvensis accumulated higher iron (1900 μg/g) followed by L. adscendens (1878 μg/g), A. philoxeroides (1507 μg/g ) and M. verticillata (1487 μg/g). These observations may be used while selecting the plant species for phyto-remediation of waste water in a constructed wetland. The use of A. philoxeroides as a cattle fodder can find metal entry in the food chain is of major concern.