Freshwater is one of the most essential and vulnerable resources on the planet. Around the world, municipalities rely on vast, interconnected networks of water and wastewater infrastructure to ensure that this freshwater flows safely and reliably. Yet, today, these systems face an urgent and growing threat: cyberattacks.
From ransomware to state-sponsored sabotage, cyber risks are no longer theoretical; they are a reality. They’re happening now, crossing borders and testing the resilience of our most critical services. For leaders in the water and wastewater sector, the time to prioritize cybersecurity is now.
A new threat vector: Why water utilities are a target
Water infrastructure is becoming a favorite target for cybercriminals. These attackers are motivated by various objectives:
- Financial gain, via ransomware
- Geopolitical disruption by state actors
- Hacktivism, aimed at drawing attention to environmental or political causes
The consequences extend far beyond inconvenience. They pose a threat to public health, economic stability, and national security. And the threats are ongoing. Since 2020, more than 30 cyberattacks have been documented against drinking and wastewater utilities. And, earlier this month, Poland thwarted an attack on the water supply of one of its major cities.
But not all utilities have been so lucky. In 2024, Southern Water, a UK utility that provides water and wastewater services to millions, reported a data breach in which hackers stole the personal data of as many as 470,000 customers. This ransomware attack cost the utility more than £4.5 million.
While an attack like this primarily targets data and financial systems, any breach could potentially disrupt operations and take facilities offline. Beyond direct attacks on control systems, water utilities face threats to the vast amounts of sensitive data they collect and manage. Customer billing information, consumption patterns, and infrastructure maps all represent valuable targets for identity thieves and those planning physical attacks on facilities.
In a worst-case scenario, chemicals may be tampered with, escalating risk to a community crisis. For example, a hacker infiltrated a Florida water treatment plant in 2021, and attempted to raise sodium hydroxide levels to a dangerous level. Fortunately, a vigilant operator intervened. The consequences of a missed or delayed response would have been catastrophic.
The regulatory push to protect water and wastewater operations
Because of this, global authorities have implemented sector-specific cybersecurity requirements, such as the European Union (EU) Network and Information Systems Regulations (NIS2) Directive for both IT and operational technology (OT) systems.
These security measures apply to essential service operators—including water and wastewater—to safeguard industrial control systems, SCADA, and critical infrastructure operations. Within the water sector, compliance focuses on water treatment plant controls, distribution monitoring, and quality control systems—all of which pose a serious risk when compromised by bad actors.
In North America, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have also sounded the alarm regarding a common cybersecurity vulnerability at water and wastewater systems. By using unsecured Human Machine Interface (HMI) devices, unauthorized remote users could exploit HMIs to view and adjust real-time system settings. According to the EPA, these unauthorized adjustments can potentially disrupt the facility’s water and/or wastewater treatment process. Currently, more than 300 U.S. water systems are at risk due to critical or high-priority cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
Whatever the situation or location, compromising these critical utilities carries significant consequences for health, safety, and the environment—effects that ripple globally.
Aging systems, modern threats in water and wastewater cybersecurity
Many water systems still operate on SCADA architectures designed for performance rather than protection. These legacy systems may lack encryption, intrusion detection, or access control. As facilities become more connected through IoT and remote access, the cyberattack surface expands exponentially.
Municipalities face a perfect storm: aging infrastructure, growing digital complexity, and sophisticated adversaries.
Cyber resilience in water management: What it takes
Securing water infrastructure against cyber threats will require more coordinated efforts, training, and cross-collaboration among government agencies, technology companies, and water utilities to build cyber resilience.
Water facility leaders can no longer afford to treat cybersecurity as an IT issue alone. It must be embedded in operations, engineering, procurement, and policy.
Building a cyber-resilient utility requires:
- Segmentation of operational networks to limit exposure
- Continuous monitoring for anomaly and threat detection
- Timely patching and updates to close known vulnerabilities
- Role-based access control (RBAC) and multi-factor authentication
- Encrypted data storage and secure remote access
This isn’t just a technical challenge—it’s an organizational one. Workforce training, crisis planning, and interagency collaboration are just as important for cyber resilience.
Applying best practices: Real-world examples from Schneider Electric
While the need for cybersecurity is clear, implementation can be complex. That’s why many utilities are turning to proven frameworks and technology partners.
At recent industry events and forums, Schneider Electric has demonstrated how digital resilience can be practically achieved. To do this, they draw on real examples from municipal water systems.
Case study: How Tekniska verken is building future-ready and cybersecure water services using digital twins
Secure-by-design technology
In 2025, SE joined Nozomi Networks’ MSSP Elite Partner Program to deliver best-of-breed Managed Security Services (MSS) to the energy and chemicals, power and grid, and water and wastewater industries, among others.
These include robust cybersecurity solutions for water infrastructure protection, such as:
- SCADAPack 470i/474i RTUs — Remote Terminal Units are built specifically with cybersecurity in mind. These are the first in the market to offer integrated RBAC, helping prevent unauthorized system access.
- EcoStruxure™ Water Cycle Advisor — Provides digital twin modeling and predictive analytics, helping utilities detect anomalies and optimize operations securely.
- EcoStruxure™ Cybersecurity Platform — A comprehensive cloud-based suite offering real-time threat monitoring, vulnerability management, and incident response capabilities tailored to industrial operations.
- Modicon Edge I/O NTS — Delivers edge-layer protection for distributed and remote sites, ensuring secure data handling even at the outermost reaches of the network.
Watch video: Cybersecurity Solutions and Services at Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric’s commitment to cybersecurity also goes beyond its products. As a founding member of the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance, SE contributes to the development of global standards and partners with initiatives such as the U.S. Department of Energy’s CyTRICS and the CISA’s ICS Joint Working Group.
Securing a safe and sustainable future
The ripple effect of cyber threats on water security is a real and growing concern. But with sound investment and technical collaboration, the water industry can modernize and build resilience with advanced digital solutions. After all, maintaining water systems as efficiently, reliably, and securely as possible is the ultimate service we can deliver to our global communities in an increasingly connected world.
Delve into the latest advancements in cyber resilience by downloading a report examining how AI, automation, and digital technologies are transforming key sectors and driving sustainable progress.
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