Community participation has often been cited by many civil society groups and international organizations as a critical tool in improving access to basic services, especially among the urban poor. The constant cycle of inequity and the residents" struggle for water supply, especially in the climate change context, has inadvertently resulted in an inter-play of actors from various backgrounds, both formal and informal, each with varying agendas and vested interests. A major challenge of participatory approaches lies in reconciling these diverse interests to form cohesive partnerships that will result in improved service delivery and meaningful empowerment for the communities involved.