The concentrations of heavy metals(HMs)in groundwater in rural areas of Suzhou City were examined, and the health risks of the HMs were assessed using the risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environment Protection Agency(USEPA). The results show that the groundwater was not suitable for drinking, especially in the rural areas in the suburbs. The results of the health risk assessment show that the health risk caused by chemical carcinogens was far higher than that caused by chemical non-carcinogens, and the health risk caused by the latter through diffusion of potable water could be neglected. The mean values of health risks of Cr and Cd were 1. 24×10^-6 and 1. 34×10^-5 per year, respectively, accounting for 89. 52% and 10. 45% of the total health risk, indicating that Cr and Cd in groundwater in the study area generate a high carcinogenic risk, and these two HMs, regarded as priority pollutants, should be paid much attention.