This sludy lI'as aim eel 01 examining Ihe role or communily parlicipmion on rtlralll'mer supplyrnprojecl. Two Kebeles oj'Debalie Woreda- Amon Ambo and Yamp, in IJenishal1gul-Guli/uzrnRegional Slate were used as study sites. Data collection lechniques include inlerviell's,rnslm ciured questionnaire and focus group discussion. Hundred households were selected onrnmluntary basis and completed Ihe SlrtlCiured questionnaire. Twenty-one focus group discussantsrnand three key iniol'll /(mls ,vere also involved to generate primary data. Both quantitative andrnqualilalive melhods were used 10 analyze dala. Theflnding indicaled Ihat Ihe participalion orlherncomnlllnity in waler supply projecI in bOlh Sfll(!)' siles lI'as generally low. IlIIplemenling agenciesrnmobilize the cOll1l1l/lI1ity mailily at the construction/ implementalion slage. Because (jj' lhis,rncOlllllllmit)"s participation al the implemel1lation or conSlruclion phase is more active asrncompared 10 olher slllges (jr Ihe water supply projeci. Instilutional supports like capacityrnbuilding, provision (jrspare parts, andjollow up, impact assessment are limited and these resultsrnin poor management of the 1I'(lter suppl)' scheme. Finally, recommendations lI'ere given 10rnimprove the participation (j/ Ihe community in rtlral water supply pr(jiect. Creating betterrn(IIV(lr(!ness among lhe cOI11IJ1lmi!y aboltl the needs of communily panicipofion un Foler supplyrnproject; mobilizing the co /nlllllnity s{(lrling Fom Ihe project p lanning stage to lI1on itoring andrnevaluation (j/ the schellle; selling criteria for the selection of trainees and providing adequaterntraining jar WC lIIember and users to can )' 0111 Ihe operation ami maintenance of ,'Oterrnsyslems, and making lise of trained water allendants. All these are areas, ,vhich needsrnimprovellJel1f on II,e side ()/ illlpielllel1l ing agency. Diversified analysis based on the di/Terenlrnsiakehoiders should be cel1lml to an)' I'IIral ,vater planning Both impleillenting agency and (herncOlil/llunit)' have 10 involve ill idel1lijj'ing factors that prevent communities Fom particljJOtion.rnOpposition regarding impleillentalion (j/ the project requirillg capital COSI and otherrncOl1fributions Fom the COl11l1l1mities is emerging It is crucial 10 kno,l' whether Ihis has anyrnposilive or negative implications on/imll'e olltcomes.