Hydrogels　have　been　used　in　various　applications　due　to　their　superior　wetness,　softness,　responsiveness　and　biocompatibility.　Together　with　the　rapid　development　of　membrane　technologies,　hydrogel　membranes　are　being　intensively　investigated　for　versatile　functions　in　various　fields.　Unlike　the　huge　literature　focusing　on　biomedical　applications,　the　environmental　application　of　hydrogel　membranes　is　not　fully　explored.　This　study　aims　at　providing　a　comprehensive　discussion　on　various　categories　of　hydrogel　membranes　for　treating　typical　aqueous　pollutants.　Firstly,　the　concept　and　current　research　status　for　hydrogel　membranes　are　briefly　described,　highlighting　the　evolution　of　research　topics　based　on　bibliometric　analysis　on　hydrogel　membranes　in　water　and　wastewater　treatment.　Then,　the　raw　polymers　and　strategies　for　preparing　hydrogel　membranes　are　discussed,　focusing　on　cross-linking　approaches.　In　the　following　sections,　the　state-of-the-art　advances　of　hydrogel　membranes　in　oil/water　separation,　filtration/desalination,　adsorption　and　catalysis　are　systematically　assessed,　emphasizing　the　practical　applications　for　aqueous　pollutants　removals.　Finally,　the　challenges　in　practical　application　including　membrane　fouling,　mechanical　strength　and　stability,　low-cost　fabrication　methods　for　scale-up　and　regeneration　are　proposed　and　further　needs　are　carefully　given.　This　review　will　give　useful　guide　for　the　preparation　and　application　of　hydrogel　membranes　in　water　and　wastewater　treatment.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.