Five East Tennessee counties are banding together in what may be the state’s first regional water coalition. The mayors of Claiborne, Grainger, Hancock, and Union counties – all just north of Knoxville – met with Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale on Monday to discuss preparing for future droughts. Gov. Phil Bredesen urged such cooperation last year when it became clear that at least 20 water systems in the state were under mandatory conservation measures at least in part because of a lack of planning and partnerships with neighbors.