Abstract:Cultivation of fruits and vegetables in the drawdown areas (floodplains) of the Afram River relies on pesticides input for enhanced productivity. Application of pesticides in the floodplains can elevate its level in the water and have health implications. Pesticides content of the Afram River at normal level (recess regime) was compared with the flood regime to determine if farming in the drawdown areas has any impact on water quality. Water samples were taken twice during each regime over two consecutive years and pesticide residues were analysed by gas chromatography. The flood periods registered 14 organochlorines, 12 organophosphates and 9 pyrethroids, with respective mean concentration ranges: 0.01 -16.79, 0.01 -2.14, 0.01 -1.12 µg/L; as against 10 organochlorines, 11 organophosphates and 4 pyrethroids quantified during the recess regimes, with respective mean concentration ranges of: 0.01 -0.27, 0.01 -0.37, 0.01 -0.158 µg/L. Levels of 9 pesticides exceeded WHO/EU maximum residue limits for the flood period, in contrast to only 1 during the recess. Dieldrin, endrin, chlorpyrifos and β-endosulfan exceeded quality criteria limits for the protection of aquatic life during flood regime. Welch two sample t-test on common pesticides quantified during both periods show significantly higher concentrations (p ≤ 0.05) during flood regimes. It is concluded that drawdown farming increases the incidence and concentration of pesticides in water during flood periods and presents health risk to the consuming communities and aquatic life.