Regional water use should mandate regional cooperation across state lines.

But that’s not the stance Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is taking. In the wake of a recent court order that would all but end Georgia’s use of Lake Lanier as a primary source of water for metro Atlanta, Perdue is taking a staunchly obstructionist view, saying he will “fight to the death” for those water rights.

Given that three states — Alabama, Florida and Georgia — depend on Lanier and other water sources originating in Georgia for everything from drinking water to hydroelectric power, to fishing, to recreation and more, all three states should have a say in how that resource is allocated.

But for two decades, such cooperation has been non-existent. Instead, Georgia officials have claimed more and more of the water to supply the uncontrolled urban sprawl around Atlanta.

If the rate of withdrawals continued unchecked, Alabama and Florida down river would have been left high and dry.

Unable to reach a compromise, the states turned to the federal government — which has offered little help to remedy the situation.

This latest court order is a serious blow to Georgia’s claims over the water and many believed it would force that state to more openly negotiate with its neighbors.

But the opposite has happened. Instead of returning to the negotiating table, Perdue has taken a hard-line stance, hoping the issues will be taken up by Congress in a way that would favor Georgia.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley is taking the high road in the disagreement, calling for Perdue to restart state-level talks over water usage so they can find an equitable solution.

Riley is drawing a wide range of support, including part of Georgia’s congressional delegation, who also support the talks.

Our governor is absolutely on the mark in calling for a return to multi-state talks over the issue.

This is not a problem that is going to go away or get any better. In fact, it is likely to get worse — many experts say the South’s growing population will put more and more demand on water resources, and states need to be mindful of that situation.

It will take working together and cooperation for the states to fairly divide up the natural resources they share and depend on. No one state should get preferential treatment when it comes to water usage.