This is exactly what happens in Spain: https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/01/spain-expected-to-declare-drought-emergency-today-with-big-fines-for-breaking-

This is exactly what happens in Spain: https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/01/spain-expected-to-declare-drought-emergency-today-with-big-fines-for-breaking-water-rules https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/02/01/spain-expected-to-... Agriculture is responsible for 80% of water use. Because water is not market priced for farmers, farmers use very inefficient surface irrigation, causing 50% of water to vaporise. Then nobody does anything and wishes the government pays them to switch to more efficient irrigation systems. Edit: Looks like government is doing exactly this - paying farmers to reduce water usage, instead of having a fair price for the water https://www.catalannews.com/drought/item/government-and-farmers-agree-special-drought-plan-with-compensation-for-losses-suffered-due-to-restrictions https://www.catalannews.com/drought/item/government-and-farm... Hopefully this leads too a real change is not just a socialist solution kicking can down the road.