Cyberattacks on the U.S. Water Systems: A Looming Threat and the Urgent Need

It is difficult to imagine the consequences if a large portion of the U.S. population suddenly lost access to clean water. This scenario is an imminent threat to the nation’s water system due to recurring cyberattacks from groups affiliated with Russia, Iran, and China. A recent AP article by Daly and Phillis (2024), titled “US says cyberattacks against water supplies are rising, and utilities need to do more to stop them,” highlights a new warning issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA is urging water systems to take immediate actions to protect the nation’s drinking water from these escalating cyber threats. The renewed warnings stem from the EPA’s evaluations of water utility systems, which found that around 70% of these systems violated security standards, leaving this critical infrastructure vulnerable to breaches.

Phillis and Daly note that the barriers to improving water system security focus on the shortcomings of existing technical capabilities and a lack of funding to implement necessary security measures. Additionally, disagreements between the industry and government entities over the scope of requirements outlined in the Safe Drinking Water Act and the authority of the EPA to enforce the requirements have further complicated efforts to enhance the security of the water utilities. Industry groups are seeking to collaborate with the government to establish a new organization dedicated to strategically addressing the specific needs of water utilities. This organization aims to implement new policies and technologies essential for safeguarding the nation’s water supply.

CITATION

Daly, M., & Phillis, M. (2024, May 20). US says cyberattacks against water supplies are rising, and utilities need to do more to stop them. AP. https://apnews.com/article/water-utilities-cyberattack-epa-russia-1435b3e6a569aa046e05c7947f0a0f3d