BACKGROUND:To evaluate residues of environmentally concerned pesticides in water system, this monitoring was conducted over three rivers. The residual characteristics and discharging condition of these residues on water system was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total twenty nine sampling sites were selected through main streams and branch streams of Keum, Mangyung and Dongjin rivers, and the water samples from them were regularly collected one month interval, especially biweekly from May to August in 2002. Of the pesticides monitored, six fungicides which include hexaconazole, isoprothiolane and iprobenfos were detected with frequencies of 0.3-50.9% and in their residue level of 0.1-4.7 g/L. Sixteen insecticides which include μ nine organophosphoruses, three carbamates, endosulfan, cypermethrin, buprofezin and fipronil were detected with frequencies of 0.3-32.5% and in their residue level of 0.01-2.8 g/L. Nine herbicides which include alachlor μ molinate, anilofos, butachlor, dimepiperate, metolachlor, oxadiazon, pretilachlor and thiobencarb were detected with frequencies of 0.8-22.9% and in their residue level of 0.01-9.07 g/L. μ CONCLUSION: Detection frequencies and residue levels of insecticides and herbicides were the highest in waters sampled in May and June. Almost pesticides detected were for the paddy rice and their residue levels were very low to compare with standard values.