A common concern in the approval of nanotechnology for water treatment is whether there are advantages of these nanomaterials over conventional water treatment reagents. In this work, nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is compared with lime (Ca(OH)(2)), the most widely used heavy metal precipitant, for Pb (II) and Zn(II) removal, in laboratory and field experiments. Water chemistry, treatment efficiencies and reaction products of the two reagents are compared and the study shows that the moderate solution pH of nZVI and its seed effect play vital roles in producing high-quality effluents. The results are then verified in a field continuous-flow experiment using tons of lime and kilos of nZVI. The results show that sub-ppm levels (similar to 0.1 mg/L) of Pb(II) and Zn(II) could not be achieved via lime precipitation alone, due to the solubility limits of metal hydroxides and their re-dissolution caused by the strong alkalinity of lime. In comparison, stable and lower levels of Pb(II) and Zn(II) were easily attained using nZVI, due to its multifunctional properties and good tolerance for influent fluctuation enabled by its inherent pH-stabilizing nature. SEM characterizations, particle size analyses and quiescent settling experiments show the ability of nZVI to generate large and consolidated solids that are amenable to gravitational separation. The study shows several key advantages of nZVI over lime technology in Pb(II) and Zn(II) removal. As lime is widely used for heavy metal removal, this work provides an effective advanced treatment process to supplement lime-based treatment methods. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.