<p>This review aims to explore the fabrication, surface modification, and application of cellulose-based nanomaterials for efficient wastewater treatment. Human activities across agriculture, industry, and households are increasingly polluting the planet’s freshwater resources. Both human wellnesses are seriously threatened by pollutants like pigments and heavy metals. Effective wastewater management technologies are desperately needed, as evidenced by the increasing hazards these chemicals represent. Numerous techniques, such as purification, agglomeration, surface assimilation, and incorporation, provide economical and effective ways to eliminate pollutants from wastewater. Interest in employing organic substances for these procedures has increased recently. Since it may be chemically and physically modified to create cellulose-based nanomaterials, cellulose a widely accessible, biodegradable, and nontoxic polymer has drawn special interest. These materials exhibit remarkable properties that make them highly effective in water purification. The methods for creating cellulose-based nanomaterials, including bacterial cellulose, cellulose nanofibers, and cellulose nanocrystals, are examined in this article. It also discusses the latest developments in chemical surface modification techniques and nanocellulose processing and assesses to remove contaminants from wastewater, including heavy metals, organic pollutants, and pharmaceutical residues.</p>