Recently, water wars broke out between Florida, Alabama and water-controller Georgia.

   Lake Lanier comprises the target for the rigorous water wars in the tri-states region. Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia, Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama and Gov. Charlie Crist of Florida battle for the rights of Lake Lanier’s precious water.

   The U.S. Army Corps Engineers also involved themselves in this water fight. The Army Corps refuse to give in to demands from all three governors. The Army Corps makes clear their grievance, claiming the opening of the dam would harm endangered marine life organisms.

   So let me get this straight - the Army Corps cares more about some exotic sea shells than the people of all three states? What a shame environmentalists consider organisms over human beings. Sounds to me like the mess PETA contributes.

   At one time, Lake Lanier shined and glistened as the sun reflected on its beautiful waters; now the shores bake like the Sahara Desert.

   The three governors and Army Corps will battle it out in Washington.  Alabama’s governor claims Georgia's overuse of Lake Lanier's water supply is causing the drought.  Alabama also adds that the result is harmful to agriculture as well as the citizens of Alabama.  

   Florida’s governor also claims the water shortage can endanger citizens as well as the fishing and marine market business.

   The estimated water supply left for Georgia, Alabama and Florida, the states claim, rests at 90 days. The Army Corps disagreed with the estimated water supply; they estimate it at 120 days.

   However, this is not the first disagreement over Lake Lanier’s water supply. In 2000-2002, all three states made proposals for the distribution of the water supply.

   To be honest, Georgia owns Lake Lanier; the lake exists in Atlanta, and it’s the state’s water, not Alabama or Florida’s. The governor has the right to do with the water as he/she so pleases.

   Florida and Alabama are nearly at the whim of Georgia’s ownership of the water supply. But in America, we have to share, even though Alabama and Florida have no leg to stand on this issue.

  Humid but dry conditions this year sucked the water supply dry.  So now the federal government once again has to interfere in this old feud that has been going on for years.  

   All cities and towns in the tri-states are requesting citizens to 'snitch' on each other if they see their neighbors overusing the water supply. What the hell is this, the Stalin era back again?  

   Seventy-four percent of the water belongs to Georgia, 15 percent to Alabama and 11 percent to Florida. Is this the beginning of what’s to come in the future? Will water wars wage in neighboring states until the whole nation battles each other for the most precious resource that God has created - water?

   This issue can become chaotic if we, the American people, do nothing about it. Is it a possibility that the Ark-La-Miss can be the next target for water wars? I hope that day will never happen.

   Personally, I blame industrial corporate neo-cons who poison our fresh drinking waters by dumping their chemical products into lakes and rivers; this taints the source the good citizens of America receive their tap water from.

   The corporations seem not to care about what happens to the common working class American. Also, the environmentalist are to blame as well; the tree-hugging liberals prefer endangered species' preservation over living human beings' survival.  They show this by lobbying ridiculous laws that provide expendable creatures protection and fresh water.

   So I guess the question bugging me most:  if an environmentalist was given a choice to save one of the two creatures, which should die and which survive?  An endangered species mammal that does not speak a language?  Or a 5-year-old child who speaks a language and grows into an adult?

   Most likely the wacko environmentalist will chose the animal because it's an endangered species.  They believe the children are expendable. What a loser.

   Last and not least, we are to blame for the water wars. I believe Americans waste too much water per day. Taking too long in showers, watering your lawn everyday, leaving the water on in the sink while brushing your teeth and using the extra-large washing machine setting on the washer all contribute to this problem.

   These are little mistakes that can create big problems. Maybe if we start to take this water issue more seriously and cut back on unnecessary wastefulness, other states will not end up in a dilemma like Georgia, Florida and Alabama.  

   Here are some tips I believe we good Americans can use to save water and not have a war of the waters: 

1. Take 5 minute showers; hi-flow showerheads are better.  I know the EPA claims low-flow but that only wastes more water when you need to be cleaned faster.

2. Don’t over-water your lawn; just a spray with the widespread nozzle hose will do the trick to keep that lawn green and beautiful.

3. Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth until you are done; mouthwash or a cup of water can be a substitute for cleaning out your mouth when done brushing.

4. Use hi-flow toilets; less flushes equals less wasted water to get your business out of your toilet bowl.

5. Use water saving fixtures to reduce water costs and usage; your local hardware stores can direct you to the right fixture for you.

6. Fix that leak; leaks can cause excessive water wastefulness when not attended to.

7. Drink bottled water; also it tastes better than the tap water out of the sink.

8. Don’t just pile your dirty clothes into the washer and wash them; semi-fold them and adjust to where all the water can wash them.

9. When washing raw chicken; put all the chickens into a straining bowl and wash them at once instead of one at a time; you can do this for other foods as well.

10. Use the dishwashing machine; if you do not have one just use the faucet on a low setting to rinse the dishes when done scrubbing them.

   These tips will help Georgia, Alabama, Florida and the people of the country cut back on wasteful water.