The government should have rewards for inventing items they deemed necessary for America survival. A 10 billion dollar prize for inventing desalination technology that first certain requirements would be a good start.
http://www.popularmechanics.com/how-to/blog/lockheeds-better-faster-way-to-desalinate-water-15216615
Obstacle:
But working with such a thin material presents new problems, and engineers are still trying to find the best way to produce nanometer-wide holes in the membranes quickly and on a large scale without tearing the product.
Solution:
http://3dprint.com/31887/pure-3d-printed-graphene/
If the Fruit Loop state spent its money on desal plants instead of choo choos, they wouldn't have a water problem.
Don’t need a government reward - the market will amply reward anything that is useful enough that people will buy.