The desalination plants would presumably be idle in the years when it did rain enough, yet you still have to pay the capital costs. It would be interesting to know what the capital costs would really be.
I think it comes down to this choice:
(a) make other people cut down on water use
(b) do nothing and hope it rains next year
(c) spend money
Normal, i.e. short-sighted, voters will probably choose (a) and (b).
Biting the hand that feeds IT
