Here in Melbourne, Australia, we are very fortunate that the majority of our drinking water is harvested from protected catchments areas around the outskirts of the city and this water flows into protected dams (no power boats allowed) and from there into the water purification and distribution network. Following a prolonged period of drought which saw the dams drop to very low levels and required significant water restrictions to be enacted, we have built a large desalination plant to provide an alternative source of water. Naturally, almost as soon as the plant was finished (2012 ish?) the drought broke and the dams began to refill. The desalination plant was branded as something of a White Elephant in the media because we have to buy a minimum amount of water each quarter. However what the critics are overlooking is that Melbourne has grown significantly since the last dam was completed back in the late 70s. We are currently experiencing flooding in Northern Victoria and some in some Melbourne suburbs, but just as night follows day another drought will come around within the next 10 years. Then having the desalination plant will not seem so stupid for a large city living on a very dry continent. <br>Mark from Melbourne Australia