Increased water demand from population and economic growth, environmental needs, change in rainfall, flood contamination of good quality water and over abstraction of groundwater are all factors that will continue to create water shortage problems around the world. This paper considers alternative solutions, which conform to sustainable solution premises whilst being economically beneficial to island communities. Case studies are described that demonstrate solutions including the benefits of proven hydrogeological expertise, water resource management in very poor developing, regions, cash crop production by reusing brackish municipal wastewater and reuse for industry.