Here’s the problem; what happens to those private businesses in years when there is no drought? If there’s plenty of cheaper water, they will go bankrupt. Or the government will have to subsidize them. In someplace that never has plentiful water they can count on a steady demand, but most years in CA are not drought years, unlike the middle east which is always dry.
The private plants will simply adjust to market conditions then, if there is a surplus of water.
Sheesh
SoCal LA are never has water, they bring it from way east rivers and mountain lakes by aquaducts. DeSal would probably not be much more expensive.
That’s a good point. Perhaps some kind of long term contract could address that issue.