It's a war for water

Seems we got us a subterranean turf battle on our hands.

The state of Mississippi is suing the Memphis Light Gas & Water utility for "stealing water":

Mississippi claims the scores of MLGW wells scattered across Shelby County to provide municipal drinking water are draining its portion of a critical aquifer. Nearly one-third of the water now pumped by MLGW is rightfully Mississippi's, according to the suit filed in 2005 by Atty. Gen. Jim Hood.

Where is that promised tort reform we were promised? This is ridiculous, of course. According to MLGW their wells are drilled straight down and not in any way slanted towards the south (apparently not like the Iraq/Kuwait oil well thing).

The aquifer spans both states. The unmarked water encased within, constantly being replaced by rainfall permeating the subsoil, has a tendency to flow north towards Tennessee over time. But reasonable people would have no trouble understanding that once it reaches the MLGW wells it's our water. What would they suggest Memphis do, install underground floodgates at the state line?

This lawsuit could perhaps have precedent-setting powers. One thing is true, if they find for Mississippi our local water bills will skyrocket to handle the umpteen years of recompense for water theft. This should be a slam dunk win for Memphis but such presumptions are dangerous based on what we already know about MLGW. Heck, this could be some kind of racket involving free water to the Ford family.

Whatever happens let's just hope they don't force us to suck water off the Mississippi River. Memphis tap water is some of the best in the country exactly because it doesn't come from the Big Muddy.