If hackers cripple America's water, the consequences could be catastrophic

When Americans think about cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, they often picture pipelines, banks, or the electric grid. But one of the most attractive targets for foreign adversaries flows through nearly every American home every day: our drinking water.

Few people stop to consider the consequences if a communitys water or wastewater system were disrupted. Yet these systems have quietly become prime targets for nation-state actors and cybercriminals seeking to undermine public confidence, disrupt essential services, and probe Americas critical infrastructure.

These threats are no longer hypothetical.

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In January 2024, attackers infiltrated the water system in Muleshoe, a community in my home state of Texas, causing thousands of gallons of water to spill into city streets after manipulating the systems industrial controls. Muleshoe was not an isolated incident.

Just weeks ago, an Iran-linked hacking group claimed responsibility for breaching systems associated with California Water Service, one of the nation's largest water utilities. While investigators found no evidence that water treatment or distribution systems were compromised, the incident served as a stark reminder that Americas water infrastructure remains squarely in the crosshairs of foreign adversaries.

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Recent reports indicate that similar cyber intrusions have targeted utilities across multiple states, while federal agencies continue to warn that nation-state actors from Iran, China, and Russia are actively searching for vulnerabilities in our nations critical infrastructure. The question is no longer whether these systems will be targeted. They already are.

Long before the latest headlines, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee recognized where this threat was heading. In May, our Environment Subcommittee convened experts from government, academia, national laboratories, and the private sector to examine how science and technology can better protect Americas water infrastructure from cyber threats. The testimony was clear: these threats are evolving faster than many utilities can defend against them.

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Water and wastewater systems are as essential to public safety, economic prosperity, and national security as the electric grid. More than 324 million Americans depend on public water systems every day, including hospitals, schools, manufacturers, military installations, and countless businesses that cannot function without reliable access to clean water.

Yet the nations water infrastructure is especially vulnerable. The United States has more than 50,000 community water systems, many serving small populations with limit