An analytical method for optimizing the extraction of methylparaben (MeP), ethylparaben (EtP), propylparaben (PrP) and butylparaben (BtP) in water using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection was developed. Full factorial design 2(3) with central point evaluated the interaction between the extraction solvent, disperser solvent, and sample volumes for the extraction tests. The desirability function was used to obtain the optimal condition for the extraction of parabens. Acetone and decanol were used as disperser and extraction solvents, respectively. The optimized results showed: 10 mL/700 mu L/90 mu L, respectively for the sample volume/disperser solvent/extraction with global desirability (D) value above 0.80, and extraction recovery values of 43.30%, 68.00%, 86.30% and 94.70% for MeP, EtP, PrP and BtP, respectively in a pH range between 5.0 and 6.0. The method exhibits good linearity, correlation coefficients (r) varying from 0.9957 to 0.9989, limit of detection, (0.5-1.0 mu g L-1), limit of quantification, (1.0-2.0 mu g L-1). All the parabens showed recovery rates of approximately 88%-115%. The method was successfully applied to determine parabens in surface water samples collected in the Brazilian semi-arid region (Ceara State, Brazil). The study area has high eutrophication levels and the results showed the occurrence of parabens in 60% of the samples, suggesting a possible anthropogenic contamination source.