mjpb,

There are no cost-free technological fixes for water shortages. It requires energy one way or the other to evaporate saline water and turn it not fresh water. Desalination plants require finite global-warming fossil fuels to work. Even where wind or solar power generations are used, those generators have a finite life expectancy and require fossil fuels in their manufacture.

The only solution is to reduce demand, and before we reduce demand we have to make our politicians stop increasing the demand. If population growth is not stopped, many Australians may soon find themselves before long living in conditions now akin to those of third world countries, where most do not have access to tap water.

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We must also begin to wind back, rather that increase, our exports of coal. For political leaders such as Peter Beattie and John Howard to contemplate increasing Australia's exports of coal when the world is staring in the face runaway global warming, which will, in all likelihood turn our already dry contintent into a barren desert, is criminal. (See also http://candobetter.org/about#coal)

Evaporation is very high in this country. To help prevent this, we could always try what some farmers do. Its not pretty but much cheaper than trying to roof-in massive areas over dams, AND it recycles. What is it? Simply, empty softdrink bottles slung in nets to float on the waters surface - pool cover for large areas. Of course, that then limits the fishing (income-earner via fishing licences), and spoils the natural beauty and limits the use by wildlife, but then we need to decide whats more important.

Water is a resource and needs to be treated as such. It is valuable. I am appalled that we still allow urban housing to be built without a compulsory rainwater tank. (It would be even better but unfortunately too costly to build underground tanks that were not prone to such high levels of evaporation.) Even if such water was only used for gardens and car washing it would save something.
I am also appalled that we still allow the building of private swimming pools. Sure, it is great for some people to have a pool in the backyard but it is a luxury we need to go without in Australia. We also need to cease growing rice and cotton - they take too much water. Let's preserve the water we have for the major fruit and vegetable crops we need.
Yes, could do a lot. We will not. State governments will get in the way - and they have the responsibility for water resources under our Constitution. Better and easier to claim and blame Federal politics.
I also suggest that we should be planting a minimum of one tree for each Australian in Australia each year and another tree for each Australian in the rest of the world. It would take water initially but would eventually provide climate change. Imagine adding 40 plus million trees to the planet each year!

Daggett

Shame on you for trying to spoil this blind men and the elephant pantomime.

I can remember days when there were no water restrictions, water wasn't even metered, and if you left on the hose all night all you worried about was the mud. And the really great thing was that there were no parasites lurking about trying to convince people that water was liquid gold so that they could flog revolting desalinated/recycled rubbish for a fortune. And why was this? Could it be due, as Daggett claims, to his dangerous and ludicrous claim that more people means less water per person? I am glad that I am seated else I should surely fall about laughing at such ignorance. I believe it to be due to the mysterious Emty worm which resides in water pipes Australia wide, sucking us all dry. As there seems to be no remedy in sight for this crafty worm, I can only agree with Goddess' sentiments. But If you must have more, then for goodness sake buy a tank. The Emty worm hasn't gotten into one yet, but I believe that it might have a go at gnawing into a few quite soon.

communicat, why cease growing cotton and rice? surely a farmer should be able to choose the most profitable crop for his/her business. When water is abundant there aren't big enough markets for such perishable produce if it were all fruits and vegetables. When no water is available cotton and rice just aren't grown. A dangerous position with permanent plantings, which require irrigation to survive during prolonged drought.

A 5.000 liter water tank on every city home in Australia, by law only that water for lawns and gardens.
Add the water never taken from dams as a result.
Better lawns better gardens and a better way than restrictions with not much cost.
How much extra stored water would it create?