Columbus: Water Works filing suit against Corps of Engineers

The City of Columbus may join a federal lawsuit against the US Army Corps of Engineers. At stake are water use rights in the Chattahoochee River.

The City of Columbus's Water Works is asking the city council to join its case. It contends that the city isn't getting it's fair share of water. The plaintiffs say the corps is mainly looking after Atlanta's interests, at the expense of other downstream users.

Clifton Fey, an attorney for the City Council, says they will discuss the issue: “The Water Works and the City Council here in Columbus are going to take all necessary steps to protect the interests of all Columbus water users, and those of people downstream. It will be on the Columbus City Council agenda next week.”

Georgia, Florida and Alabama filed four similar lawsuits in US district Court in March. But the Water Works say those suits do not adequately represent Columbus's interests.