The Age reports of an ongoing tug of war within the Victorian State Governments on the viability of desalination plants verses rainwater tanks.  The Age mentions they have obtained a report by by University of Melbourne systems scientist and microbiologist Peter Coombs which appear to challenge the Government's big-project desalination direction.

In one report Peter Coombs argues that previous simplistic estimates for water volumes generated by tanks in Melbourne are wrong, and badly misjudge the capability of tanks to supplement water supply.

Although he refused to comment on the reports, Professor Coombes confirmed his work showed a tank in each Melbourne household could deliver a city-wide 120 gigalitres a year, more than twice previous estimates by water supplier Melbourne Water.

More details at The Age