Senator warns of cybersecurity risk to U.S. water systems
At the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing of “Identifying and Addressing Cybersecurity Challenges to Protect America’s Water Infrastructure” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) addressed the security threats facing U.S. water systems. In his opening address Whitehouse reported that only 25 percent of water utilities conduct annual cyber risk assessments.
He noted that as the water systems modernize, the lack of cybersecurity fortification leaves facilities vulnerable to bad faith actors.
“Since 2023, Russian, Iranian, and Chinese hackers have successfully attacked small municipal water systems in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts and have tested the security capabilities of countless other systems,” said Whitehouse in front of the committee. “Over the past six years, Rhode Island municipal facilities, including a large wastewater utility, have experienced at least six cyberattacks, collectively resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses. These are just the incidents that have been reported. “
