all too true, even in a country here like belgium where you get an average of 200 rainy days a year, for some reason they succeed in having a water-shortage, and predict worse coming in the years to come ... plenty of basins here but i think most of that is to control flooding. I'm not all sure how well it works into preservation of drinkable water b/c if not the population then it must be the industry ... or maybe the football fields that need watering (very important!) ... the solution is classic belgian , just like they urge you to install solar panels to save the planet, if you do you have to push the electricity through the grid and pay for grid usage, repairs, maintenance, taxes PLUS 21% tax on electricity to the goverment (instead of simply using what you generate as green energy), the water-solution is that all new-built houses now need a pit , water-pit to catch rainwater (to save the planet) , however, to use your own rainwater from your own pit , thats mandatory or the house is out of regulation, that just fell from the sky ... you need to pay taxes to the goverment ... so im hoping its a bit more real-green overthere :D cos this ain't livable heh ;-)