This study focuses on the successful production and detailed characterization of surfactant-aided bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) nanoparticles (NPs), designed specifically to enhance their use in environmental remediation. The BiVO4 NPs were synthesized using a simple co-precipitation method, followed by the addition of a surfactant before the final calcination step. The researchers proposed that this surfactant-assisted approach would allow for precise control over the particle size, morphology, and surface area, which, in turn, would significantly boost the material's catalytic action. The resulting BiVO4 NPs were thoroughly analyzed using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red microscopy (FTIR), Energy dispersive X-ray microscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). These tests confirmed the formation of crystalline BiVO4 NPs with highly desirable structural and optical properties, particularly strong visible-light absorption. The prepared BiVO4 NPs demonstrated exceptional efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants (such as selected dyes or pharmaceuticals) when exposed to visible light. The rate of degradation was markedly superior to that achieved by BiVO4 synthesized without the surfactant. This enhanced performance is attributed to the resulting better charge separation and an increased number of available active sites on the nanoparticle surface. Furthermore, the surfactant-functionalized BiVO4 NPs also exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains, thereby establishing the material as a truly multi-functional agent. The combined, improved performance in both photocatalysis and antibacterial activity positions these surfactant-assisted BiVO4 NPs as a promising, cost-effective, and highly active nanomaterial for advanced applications in wastewater treatment and the preservation of public health.