Water & Wastewater OT Cybersecurity

"Water and wastewater utilities serve as the backbone of public health infrastructure, making them critical targets for cyber attacks that could disrupt essential services affecting entire communities and public safety."

Water Sector Cyber Security Challenges

Public Health, Environmental Protection and Service Reliability are the critical imperatives for water utilities.

Water and wastewater treatment facilities rely on sophisticated process control systems, SCADA networks, and chemical dosing automation to ensure water quality meets drinking water standards and environmental discharge permits. These systems operate continuously, managing complex treatment processes including filtration, disinfection, biological treatment, and chemical removal.

The sector faces unique challenges: geographically distributed assets (treatment plants, pump stations, reservoirs, wells), aging infrastructure with legacy control systems, limited cybersecurity budgets, and small operational teams managing both IT and OT systems. Remote telemetry units monitor thousands of points across service territories, creating extensive attack surfaces.

With AWIA (America's Water Infrastructure Act) requiring risk assessments and emergency response plans for systems serving over 3,300 people, and EPA guidance on cybersecurity, utilities must implement structured security programs despite resource constraints.

Water Sector Threat Environment

Evolving Threats

Nation-state actors targeting water infrastructure for disruption and pre-positioning
Ransomware attacks encrypting SCADA systems and preventing operators from monitoring treatment
Hacktivists targeting water utilities to make political statements or cause public alarm
Unauthorized access through remote access systems and vendor connections
Chemical dosing system manipulation risking water quality and public health
Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks disrupting monitoring and control capabilities

Operational Impact

Loss of treatment visibility or control can force boil water advisories affecting thousands of customers
Disrupted wastewater treatment can result in environmental permit violations and EPA enforcement
Pump station failures can cause service outages or sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs)
Water quality incidents from cyber attacks create public health emergencies and liability exposure
Regulatory violations under AWIA or state requirements can result in enforcement actions
Public trust and confidence damaged by cyber incidents affecting essential services

Water & Wastewater Systems We Secure

Treatment SCADA

Water and wastewater treatment plant SCADA systems, process control, chemical dosing automation, and plant-wide control networks.

Distribution Systems

Water distribution SCADA, pressure monitoring, tank level controls, pump station automation, and remote telemetry units (RTUs) across service areas.

Collection Networks

Wastewater collection SCADA, lift station controls, wet weather flow monitoring, and combined sewer overflow (CSO) management systems.

Process Controls

PLCs controlling filtration, disinfection, biological treatment, membrane systems, and advanced treatment processes.

Laboratory Systems

Laboratory information management systems (LIMS), water quality analyzers, online monitoring instruments, and compliance reporting systems.

Asset Management

Work order management, asset tracking, GIS integration, hydraulic modeling systems, and meter data management (MDM/AMI).

Water Utility Risk Management Strategy

AWIA-Aligned Security Approach

For water and wastewater utilities meeting AWIA requirements, OTFIELD provides practical implementation of risk assessments and emergency response plans that address both cyber and physical security threats to critical assets.

We understand the realities of water utility operations: limited cybersecurity staff, budget constraints, aging infrastructure, and the need to maintain 24/7 service. Our approach delivers effective security within these constraints, prioritizing controls that protect public health and service reliability.

Structured Implementation Framework

Phase 1: Critical Asset & Risk Assessment

Objective: Identify critical assets and assess malevolent act risks per AWIA requirements

Identify critical water and wastewater assets essential to service delivery
Assess risks from malevolent acts including cyber attacks on OT systems
Evaluate vulnerability of treatment, distribution, and collection systems
Assess consequences of compromised water quality, service disruption, or environmental violations
Consider threats to SCADA systems, chemical storage, pump stations, and treatment processes
Document interdependencies between treatment, distribution, and enterprise IT systems

This AWIA-compliant assessment identifies priority risks requiring security investments and operational controls.

Phase 2: Security Program & Emergency Response

Objective: Implement security controls and emergency response plans to mitigate identified risks

Regulatory Compliance Framework:

America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) - Risk assessment and emergency response plan requirements
EPA Cybersecurity Guidance - Best practices for water sector
NIST Cybersecurity Framework - Comprehensive risk management approach
AWWA Cybersecurity Guidance - Sector-specific security controls
State-specific requirements - Varying by jurisdiction

Essential Security Controls:

Network segmentation isolating treatment and distribution SCADA from business networks
Remote access security for vendor connections and telemetry systems
Account management and password controls for SCADA and HMI systems
Backup and recovery for critical control systems and historian databases
Physical security integration with cyber controls (badge access, CCTV)
Incident response procedures for cyber events affecting operations
Vulnerability management for aging control systems and RTUs
Security awareness training for operators and maintenance staff
Emergency response plans addressing cyber incidents

Practical Security for Resource-Constrained Utilities

We understand water utilities face unique constraints. Our approach delivers effective security within budget and staffing realities:

Low-Cost, High-Impact Controls

Network segmentation using existing equipment
Policy-based controls (passwords, access management)
Leveraging free/low-cost security tools
Vendor management and contract security requirements
Security awareness for small operational teams

Scalable Solutions

Prioritized implementation aligned with risk
Multi-year roadmaps matching budget cycles
Shared services and regional collaboration options
Grant funding support (WIFIA, state revolving funds)
Managed security services for limited staff

Water Utility Success Factors

Water and wastewater utilities must address these key considerations:

Can we secure geographically distributed assets with limited cybersecurity staff?
How do we protect aging SCADA systems that cannot be easily upgraded?
Are we meeting AWIA risk assessment and emergency response plan requirements?
Can we manage cyber risk within constrained operating budgets?
How do we secure vendor remote access without disrupting essential maintenance?
Do our operational staff understand cyber threats to treatment and distribution systems?

Success requires practical approaches tailored to water utility operations, budgets, and public health protection mandates.

Regulatory & Compliance Landscape

AWIA (America's Water Infrastructure Act) - Risk assessments and emergency response plans for systems serving >3,300 people
EPA Cybersecurity Guidance - Best practices for water and wastewater sector
AWWA Cybersecurity Guidance - Industry-developed security practices for water utilities
NIST Cybersecurity Framework - Risk-based approach to critical infrastructure security
State Requirements - Additional state-level cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection mandates

Protect Public Health. Meet AWIA Requirements.

Water and wastewater utilities cannot afford cyber incidents that compromise water quality or service reliability. Discover practical security solutions that meet AWIA requirements while fitting your budget and operational constraints.

Get Free 30-Minute Consultation

Protect Public Health. Ensure Resilience.

SECURING WATER & WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE