A water dispute between Alabama, Florida and Georgia over metro Atlanta's water use has spilled into Congress.

A bill allowing the government to construct and manage river and harbor projects included a rule that could have threatened north Georgia's ability to take water from Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona.

The provision would have forced Congress to give its approval anytime U.S. authorities earmark 5 percent or more of stored reservoir water for new purposes. That threshold has been exceeded at Lake Lanier, which supplies drinking water to metro Atlanta, and Lake Allatoona.

Georgia's senators have gotten that part of the bill removed, though senators from Alabama and Florida want it in there.

The states have long fought over water use from regional river systems.

Tags: Lake Lanier, water wars, Lake Allatoona, tri-state water wars