Security News > 2022 > June > U.S. Water Utilities Prime Cyberattack Target, Experts
Water may be the greatest vulnerability in our national infrastructure, said Samantha Ravich, chair of CCTI. Much of the problem lies in just how decentralized water systems are, she explained.
Water treatment plants are a ripe target because the majority of them serve smaller communities of fewer than 50,000 residents.
Langevin cited a cyberattack on critical water infrastructure that occurred in 2021 when a water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida was attacked.
Langevin highlighted how utilities providers often lack the resources to meet regulatory guidelines instituted by organizations like the EPA. And the EPA, for its part, "Faces challenges in meeting its responsibilities when it comes to the day-to-day relationship between the federal government and their water sector."
"This status quo simply cannot continue. The risks are too great. So we need to raise the bar among water utilities across the country, build a capacity and strengthen adherence to industry-wide standards. And we need to ensure that the EPA is appropriately resourced and empowered to fulfill its critical mission as a sector risk management agency for water."
Panelists included representatives from government and environmental agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association, and the United States House of Representatives.