The thesis, which presents an analysis of three Wisconsin citizen participation programs relating to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (Public Law 92-500), has identified the adult education role in teaching and applying skills, promoting growth in governmental understanding, assisting in public planning and decision-making processes, and contributing to community betterment. A public participation program is designed by each governmental agency as a part of its work plan; public participation is needed to determine costs and benefits and to assure acceptability of water quality planning decisions. The three case studies, which are presented to demonstrate the process and problems of public participation programs include the programs of Washington County, Wisconsin under Section 108, Pollution Control in the Great Lakes, dealing with nonpoint source pollution, and the State of Wisconsin and Dane County, Wisconsin 208 programs, which are Areawide Waste Treatment Management Programs concerned with point/nonpoint source pollution problems. With the assistance of a model, each of the case study public participation programs is examined in terms of identification of publics to be involved, level of involvement, and design of program. (Author/EA)