EPA to Enhance Cyber Regulation of Water Systems Amid Rising Cyberattacks

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Written By Blue & Gold NLR Team

 

 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed its intention to step up inspections of water facilities due to a significant rise in cyberattacks targeting the nation’s water infrastructure. This decision comes as a result of a notable increase in both the frequency and intensity of these attacks.

“The EPA has discovered significant cybersecurity weaknesses in drinking water systems nationwide and is actively working to resolve them,” the agency announced in an enforcement alert.

The alert provides important information on cybersecurity measures that US water facilities need to implement in order to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act. Facilities that fail to meet these standards may face penalties, including fines or, in more serious instances, criminal charges.

According to the EPA, a significant number of water systems have failed to meet the basic requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act since September.

Senior US officials have expressed significant concerns following a string of cyberattacks on water facilities in the past six months. In January, a hacking group that spoke Russian took credit for an attack that resulted in a tank at a water facility in Texas overflowing.

As a response, the EPA will utilise its enforcement authority to promptly tackle concerns like the lack of sufficient emergency response plans. The agency is dedicated to ensuring that water facilities enhance their cybersecurity defences to safeguard against future attacks.

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