A study on community participation in water development projects was conducted in Mbeya district in Mbeya region. The study investigated community participation in rural domestic waterdevelopment projects. A total of 120 respondents from six villages were interviewed using interview schedule. Interview with key informants and focus group discussions (FGDs) were also conducted. The analysis of collected data was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). This study found that the level of participation in selected rural water development projects undertaken was low. It also found that only 85% of the respondents participated in the implementation of water projects. The study further found that 45%, 37.5%, 32.5% and 30.8% of the respondents respectively participated in evaluation, problem identification, monitoring and decision making. The study also revealed that participation of the community in water projects was hindered by individual, technical and leadership related problems. With respect to sex the study showed that a greater number of males participated in the projects more than females. The respondents with income from Tshs 20,000 – 29,999 and those in households contributing less than Tshs. 499 participated more in water projects than the other category of respondents. The data also showed that a greater number of the respondents in the age group of 25 – 44 years participated in the water projects more than those in the other age groups. The Chi – square tests indicated that the level of participation in water projects activities was associated with sex, age, household income and village size at 0.05 percent level of significance. Furthermore, the data showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between the level of participation in water projects and marital status, level of education and main occupation at 0.05 percent level of significance.President’s Office and Civil service Commission,Jacob Mwambene,