This qualitative study aimed at understanding the meanings of participation of the members of the Sub Watershed Committee of the Salgado River, CE, Brazil, subsidizing the health promotion for a sustainable environment as regards water resources; reflecting on the interface between nursing and environment focusing on the component water. The subjects were 18 representatives of the committee. Information were collected through interviews, analyzed by a collective subject's discourse. The understanding of participation by the subjects were summarized in speech synthesis: participation involves social awareness, information, communication in search of solutions that represent the community. The interface of nursing on the committee is presented as a possibility for extension of its object to incorporate the environment in the actions of health promotion
Citizen participation; Water resources; Health promotion; Nursing