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Yes. Cybersecurity weaknesses can expose water and wastewater utilities to attacks that disrupt treatment or distribution, but a vulnerability finding is not proof that a system was breached or that drinking water was contaminated. The EPA’s May 2024 enforcement alert focused on community water systems; a later EPA Inspector General assessment found high- or critical-risk vulnerabilities in 97 of 1,062 larger drinking-water systems it passively assessed. EPA reported additional mitigation work in 2025, but those findings and actions do not amount to a census of every U.S. utility.
What did federal officials warn about?
On May 20, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an enforcement alert warning that cyberattacks against community water systems (CWSs) were increasing in frequency and severity, and that small systems were not immune. The alert identified attacks attributed in federal advisories to Iranian Government Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-affiliated actors, pro-Russia hacktivists, and PRC state-sponsored actors; it was not a complete list of possible threats. Read the EPA alert.
Water utilities rely on both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). IT handles functions such as business systems and communications; OT monitors or controls physical processes and equipment. If an attacker gains the ability to manipulate OT, the consequences could include disrupting treatment, distribution, or storage; damaging pumps or valves; or changing chemical levels to hazardous amounts. These are potential consequences described by EPA, not evidence that any particular incident caused them.
A related concern is an internet-exposed human-machine interface (HMI), the screen or interface operators use to monitor or adjust equipment. EPA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warn that exposed HMIs can create a path to systems used in water and wastewater operations. Their December 2024 fact sheet addresses the broader Water and Wastewater Systems Sector, rather than only the community water systems covered by the EPA enforcement alert. See the EPA-CISA HMI guidance.
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EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a management implication report on November 13, 2024, describing a passive vulnerability assessment dated October 8, 2024. It covered 1,062 drinking-water systems serving more than 193 million people, specifically systems serving at least 50,000 people. The results are significant, but they should be read within that defined assessment rather than treated as a scan of every U.S. water provider.
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| OIG assessment finding | What was reported | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| Critical- or high-risk cybersecurity vulnerabilities | 97 systems serving approximately 26.6 million people | Assessment findings, not confirmed breaches or proof of water contamination. |
| Medium- or low-risk ratings associated with externally visible open portals | An additional 211 systems serving more than 82.7 million people | A separate risk category in the same assessment; not a count of confirmed attacks. |
| Systems assessed | 1,062 drinking-water systems serving more than 193 million people | Systems serving at least 50,000 people, not all U.S. systems. |
The EPA OIG report describes the assessment and its scope. A vulnerability rating identifies a weakness or exposure to address; it does not, on its own, establish that an attacker exploited it.
EPA’s reported 2025 work
In a February 6, 2026 news release, EPA said it proactively identified cybersecurity vulnerabilities at 277 water systems and worked to address them during 2025. The agency also said it directly eliminated 350 vulnerabilities during that year. Those figures measure different things: systems in which EPA identified vulnerabilities versus vulnerabilities EPA said it eliminated. They are agency-reported activities, not an independent estimate of the share of U.S. water systems at risk. EPA also cited free assessments and technical assistance. Read EPA’s 2026 update.
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- Multiple Reminder Methods: Our water leak sensor supports multiple remote alarm. It can instantly send SMS, APP, and Email notifications to your phone (no matter how many times the SMS is used, it's free). Also, the water leak sensor flashes red and sounds a 105 dB alarm. Perfect for the basement, kitchen, or vacation home!
- Feature-Rich App: Receive instant push notifications. Use the “Find Device” feature to quickly trigger audible beeps to retrieve misplaced sensors. Add multiple email addresses through the APP, and your family and friends can also receive reminders when there is a water leak at home.
- Industry Leading IP67 Waterproof: Its IP67 waterproof rating ensures durability against spills, humidity, and accidental submersion.It can be used multiple times after wiping dry.
- Four-level volume adjustment: Customize your own alarm to fit your life! Use the app to adjust the volume in 4 levels, with a maximum alarm volume of 105 decibels. Whether it's day or night, whether it's in the bedroom or the basement, you can find the right volume.
What utilities should do to reduce cyber risk
EPA’s 2024 alert and the joint EPA, CISA, and FBI fact sheet organize practical defenses around limiting access, understanding systems, and preparing to recover. The agencies recommend that water utilities:
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- Conduct regular cybersecurity assessments.
- Change default passwords.
- Inventory IT and OT assets so the utility knows what it operates and needs to protect.
- Develop and exercise incident-response and recovery plans.
- Back up IT and OT systems.
- Reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities.
- Provide cybersecurity awareness training.
These are operational safeguards, not consumer-product fixes. A household router, antivirus subscription, or water filter cannot secure a utility’s control network or substitute for utility incident planning. The EPA, CISA, and FBI Top Cyber Actions fact sheet provides the agencies’ recommendations.
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Protect internet-exposed HMIs
For HMIs that are reachable from the internet, EPA and CISA recommend additional access and monitoring controls. Utilities should consider:
- Strong passwords and multifactor authentication.
- Network segmentation, using a demilitarized zone or bastion host where appropriate.
- Geofencing and allowlisting authorized IP addresses.
- Prompt patching, logging and monitoring of remote logins, and following vendor security recommendations.
- CISA’s free vulnerability scanning service.
Because HMIs can connect remote access to operational equipment, utilities should implement controls in a way that preserves safe, reliable operation and is compatible with their equipment. The joint EPA-CISA fact sheet gives the specific recommendations.
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Assess risk and choose workable controls
EPA’s August 2024 guidance describes its cybersecurity checklist as voluntary. It recommends that systems complete an assessment, identify gaps, and develop a risk-mitigation plan. EPA points utilities to assessment methods from CISA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), as well as ISO and ISA/IEC standards; the checklist is not presented as the only valid method.
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Which community water systems have federal planning duties?
Under section 1433 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, community water systems serving more than 3,300 people must conduct Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRAs), develop Emergency Response Plans (ERPs), and certify completion to EPA. They must review both documents every five years, revise them as needed, and certify that review. EPA says the plans address physical and cyber threats.
EPA’s 2024 alert reported that more than 70% of systems it inspected since September 2023 violated basic section 1433 requirements, such as having missing RRA or ERP sections. That percentage applies to the systems EPA inspected during that period, not to all U.S. water systems. The alert offers plain-language information on selected legal provisions and expressly does not replace the statute or regulations. Consult the EPA alert for its explanation.
Where utilities can get help
EPA and CISA provide guidance and assistance for utilities assessing or improving cybersecurity, including the EPA resources linked above, free assessments and technical assistance described by EPA, and CISA’s vulnerability scanning service. Utilities should work with the agencies and qualified operational-technology security support to select measures that fit their systems and protect safe service. Assistance availability can change, so utilities should check the current EPA and CISA program information directly.
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