Kansas demanded Tuesday that Nebraska pay more than $72 million for taking too much water from the Republican River, but Nebraska’s attorney general said the figure has “no basis in reality.”

Kansas officials already had proposed that Nebraska cut pumping from wells in its portion of the river basin to comply with a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decree governing water use.

The dispute could go back to the nation’s high court early next year if the two states can’t resolve their disagreements. Kansas contends Nebraska’s water use exceeded what was allowed for 2005 and 2006 by nearly 26 billion gallons, or nearly enough to supply a city of 100,000 for 10 years. Nebraska officials acknowledge some past overuse but contend they’ve taken steps to comply with the court decree.

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