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Among the affected utilities, the city of Braham reported that attackers temporarily disabled computerized operating controls, shutting down its well and water treatment plant until operators restored service. A coordinated wave of cyberattacks targeting municipal water systems across the Midwest has renewed concerns about the cybersecurity of U.S. drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, even as utilities report that public health and water quality were not compromised. Possible cyber intrusions targeting water and wastewater utilities have now been reported in at least a dozen states, multiple sources told ABC News. From droughts to floods to leaking pipes, water utilities are under more pressure than ever. The updated digital platform provides a user-friendly interface, making it simple to access data on water rates from anywhere at any time.
- Growing connectivity, new regulations, and long-term operational requirements are pushing cybersecurity decisions into the earliest stages of industrial project design.
- Iran is the prime suspect in the cyberattacks, which can blind utility operators by changing passwords or disabling alarms, according to the sources, though its involvement has not been officially confirmed.
- Ask how to self-identify, submit photos, schedule inspection, or update inventory.
- Join SWAN for the 16th Annual SWAN Conference in Tampa, Florida (June 2-4, 2026), focusing on the theme, “Adapting Your Digital Journey.” Digital transformation in the water sector isn’t a straight road.
- For lead, outages, boil-water notices, shutoffs, and construction, the exact service address matters more than citywide news.
Meanwhile, water supply reliability remains uncertain, with many utilities operating near stress thresholds and lagging in climate adaptation planning. Addressing these issues is driving up treatment costs, further straining utility budgets already burdened by infrastructure renewal, regulatory compliance, and cybersecurity investments. The 2026 State of the Water Industry report reveals a sector facing growing pressure across infrastructure, financing, and long-term water supply reliability. Join SWAN for the 16th Annual SWAN Conference in Tampa, Florida (June 2-4, 2026), focusing on the theme, “Adapting Your Digital Journey.” Digital transformation in the water sector isn’t a straight road.
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Jacqueline Mutter, National One Water Planning Lead for HDR, reflects on how potable reuse has evolved over the past decade from a long-range planning scenario into a critical water supply strategy. Learn why LCRI compliance extends beyond inventories and replacements, requiring utilities to manage data, reporting, communications, sampling, coordination, and administrative demands across the program effectively. Learn why acting early can help secure available federal infrastructure funding before programs become less accessible. Learn why unknown service lines can increase future replacement obligations under the LCRI and why reducing them before November 2027 can help utilities manage compliance. Growing connectivity, new regulations, and long-term operational requirements are pushing cybersecurity decisions into the earliest stages of industrial project design. Submit a free ProfNet request and find the sources you need.
- EPA also has a CCR page to help customers find local drinking-water quality reports.
- It focuses on official U.S. water news that changes bills, service-line work, water quality notices, utility funding, cybersecurity, customer forms, and local next steps.
- For years, many believed that isolating operational systems from the internet — known as “air-gapping” — provided sufficient protection.
- EPA’s 2026 National Cybersecurity Drill focuses on operating critical functions when internet and telecommunications are unreliable or unavailable.
- But for the better part of two decades, efforts to require the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems to meet minimum cybersafety standards have been stymied by lawmakers’ reluctance to force new requirements onto the country’s smallest water systems.
- Together, these trends underscore the need for strategic investment, innovation, and long-term planning to ensure the resilience and sustainability of the water sector.
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Other communities, including Plymouth, South St. Paul and Maple Plain, reported disruptions to automated controls or communications but maintained water and wastewater operations through manual procedures. Several Minnesota communities experienced coordinated cyberattacks that temporarily disrupted automated water and wastewater systems. The attacks affected operational technology used to monitor and control water infrastructure, prompting state and federal agencies to launch a coordinated response. 10 U.S. states best positioned with electricity to power AI data center boom Electricity bills in states with the most data centers are surging
Global Lessons and Innovations in Water Utility Leadership: Insights from AWWA’s Past President
News listings will update as each option is selected. “All systems continued to operate safely, issues were addressed by local operators, and there are no known impacts that posed a public health concern,” the Michigan State Police said, citing information from the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. In Michigan — one of the states affected — state police said they are monitoring the situation and coordinating with federal partners.
The EPA page says the proposal upholds PFOA/PFOS requirements while allowing an option for https://cognifyo.com/articles/solar-energy-storage-nighttime/ some systems to request two additional years, to 2031, for enforceable-limit compliance. Of the roughly 620 organizations that are members of the group, known as the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center, around 400 are water and wastewater utilities — representing less than 1 percent of the sector. For now, the water sector has a dedicated organization for sharing updates on cyberattacks and best practices for reducing risks, but participation is limited, voluntary and comes at a cost to utilities. Sponsored by Rep. Rick Crawford (R-Ark.), the Water Risk and Resilience Organization Establishment Act would create an independent organization to develop and enforce minimum cybersecurity standards for large and midsize water and wastewater utilities.
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“Utilities don’t https://pluginhighway.ca/blog/how-to-choose-the-best-battery-for-your-tesla-electric-vehicle-and-maximize-its-performance have the capacity, and they haven’t updated their systems to meet the challenge of cyber,” Capito said. Two Democratic senators introduced legislation Monday that would give EPA clear authority to assess cybersecurity threats across the water and wastewater sector. Now, that reluctance is being tested as pressure mounts to address the alarming vulnerabilities laid bare in Minnesota, Michigan and other states in attacks that a water sector security group said Thursday are “ongoing and expanding.” But for the better part of two decades, efforts to require the nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems to meet minimum cybersafety standards have been stymied by lawmakers’ reluctance to force new requirements onto the country’s smallest water systems.
EPA says the LCRI requires drinking-water systems to identify and replace lead pipes within 10 years, with stronger testing and action requirements to reduce lead exposure. National updates explain rules, funding, and risks. Ask whether your service address is affected, what deadline applies, and what the customer must do next. For lead, outages, boil-water notices, shutoffs, and construction, the exact service address matters more than citywide news.
A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of claims by Jackson residents alleging exposure to lead-contaminated water and misinformation by city officials, citing lack … Aging infrastructure, limited resources, and reactive maintenance are putting pressure on water utilities—but stronger asset management foundations can pave the way to greater… The breach in Minnesota happened just days after U.S. officials publicly warned that Iran-backed hackers were targeting the nation’s critical infrastructure amid the escalating military conflict between Washington and Tehran. In the warning, Wisconsin said that Minnesota had reported that hackers managed to drop system pressures, which in “several incidents triggered alarms and prompted a response from law enforcement.” Thursday’s federal advisory said the malicious cyber actors, or MCAs, targeted specific brands of control systems used by municipal water utilities, though the FBI and the EPA urged operators of all systems to take precautions. In a public service announcement Thursday, the agencies said water and wastewater utilities have reported incidents to the FBI, with some malicious activity degrading water operations.
AWWA Utility Benchmarking
Two Senate Democrats introduced a bill Monday to set cybersecurity standards for water utilities — something Republicans and industry have long fought. Ganesh Rao, CEO and co-founder of RLCore, talks to several booth visitors about the company and the launch of its product, RLTune, during AWWA ACE26 in Washington, D.C. At the 2026 Smart Water Summit, Hydrologics was honored for its potential to impact the water sector through next generation water main cleaning technology. Senators introduce bill to strengthen cybersecurity at water utilities
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