Mon., August 17, 2009 6:47am (EDT)

Battle Over Allatoona Water In Court Today

By Susanna Capelouto

Updated: 4 years ago

ATLANTA  —   Georgia's water battle returns to a courtroom in Alabama today. This time it's about Lake Allatoona, north of Atlanta. A federal judge will hear arguments in Birmingham on whether Georgia has the right to take drinking water out of Lake Allatoona, which is part of a river system that flows through Alabama.

According to the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, the results could put metro Atlanta into a tough spot. Alabama's arguments in this case are similar to those for Lake Lanier. That is that the Corp of Engineers, which controls Lake Allatoona, build the reservoir only for flood control, navigation and power generation. Drinking water was never in the original congressional authorization. A ruling in the case is expected next year.

Meanwhile, Georgia's congressional delegation is working on legislation that would add drinking water supply to federal reservoirs in 27 states. According to Senator Johnny Isakson, there are 77 reservoirs in the country supplying drinking water without specific federal authorization.