WHP580 Newsroom

WHP580 Newsroom

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EPA: Cyber Attacks Targeting Water Utilities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a warning to water utilities across the United States about the significant risk of cyber attacks that could compromise water safety. The agency described the vulnerability of many water utilities to cyber threats as 'alarming' in a news release on Monday (May 20).

The EPA highlighted security-related violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, such as shared logins and continued access for former employees. The agency also acknowledged that water utilities in Texas and Pennsylvania have already been targeted by cyber attacks.

The systems that provide safe drinking water and dependable wastewater services are increasingly dependent on networked technology. This makes them prominent targets for both profit-seeking cyber criminals and America’s authoritarian adversaries. Securing the digital systems of tens of thousands of utilities, many of which are small and municipally owned, is difficult and requires robust collaboration among governments, technology service providers, and companies.

The EPA is urging water utilities to make significant investments in cybersecurity technology and processes, both on premises and in the cloud, to enhance their cyber resilience. The agency is also calling for better public-private collaboration, including joint government-industry oversight in standard setting and more research funding for water security test beds to focus on operational technology and industrial control systems.


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