Community Participation in Community Based Water Societies and Reflection on Community Participation and Sustainability

While most urban and municipal areas receive water supply through centralized mechanisms, rural safe water supply has shifted from supply-driven to demand-driven approaches, making communities major components in water governance. Community participation is essential for continuous operations and sustainability of community-based water projects. This paper examines various factors affecting community participation including community nature, leadership, project ownership, and awareness. Through community participation, community empowerment occurs, enabling communities to address social challenges independently and ensure sustainability in their development efforts while challenging poverty.