This is a critical point. No they are not. Where I live billions and billions was spent on water infrastructure. No actual improvements in supply were made-

This is a critical point. No they are not. Where I live billions and billions was spent on water infrastructure. No actual improvements in supply were made- no additional catchments were built, because dams == bad. The money was spent in pipelines and a desalination plant that has never - and I mean never - been switched on. It's 5 years old and has never output water, because the cost is too high compared to dam water. Now I have a 400% increase in water bills but no actual improvement in what I get. That money goes to paying the interest and running costs for that investment. That money goes out of my local economy. That, in aggregate, prevents and extra shop from opening, or causes an existing one to close. Most businesses run in thin margins and diverting cash away on pointless make work lingers long after the supposed boost happens.