getting back to 'desalination, the way of the future' how your going to power it, nuke power only cost a lot on paper because of the building of the power plant/reactors - it is astronomical I believe , but once its running it cost bugger all for the next 30-50? years
re wind power and tree hugging lentil eating hippies - I had laugh when i read recently that all the beautiful new wind farms blighting the horizon in their hundreds and thousands (eventually) on our beautiful coastlines, have to be shut down in hot weather as they will burn out - sounds like a european sports car inthe desert to me :p :p :p - exactly the time when the grid needs the power the most when the aircon goes on
not to mention the thousands of native birds being minced in the blades
I dont think windpower or solar power would power a big serious desalination plant. and also re costs of conventional power - what about the cost of global warming - is that factored in?
but I should say i agree with every angle being covered, including full recovery of storm water - which adelaide is the leader in, in oz btw