Arkansas City, Kansas, experienced a cybersecurity issue related to its water treatment facility in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 22, 2024.
Authorities were immediately notified and precautionary measures were taken to ensure safe operation of the plant.
City Manager Randy Frazier assured residents that the water supply is completely safe and there will be no disruption to service.
Fraser said in a press release: “Despite the incident, our water supply was completely safe and there were no service interruptions.” “Water treatment plants have been switched to manual operation as a precaution until the situation is resolved. Residents can rest assured that their drinking water is safe and that the city is operating under full control during this period. You can rest assured.”
Cybersecurity experts and government officials are working to resolve the situation and return the facility to normal operations.
Enhanced safety measures are currently in place to protect the water supply and no changes are expected to water quality or services to residents.
Industry reaction
“Here we are again. Another breach of our water treatment facility,” said Shawn Waldman, founder and CEO of Secure Cyber. “While the City of Arkansas is adamant that there is no imminent threat to drinking water, it is worth discussing how such critical infrastructure can become vulnerable to cyberattacks.”
“The recent cyber incident at the Arkansas City water treatment facility highlights the evolving cybersecurity challenges facing critical infrastructure, particularly in the water and wastewater sectors,” said OPSWAT Deputy Director of Products. President Itay Glick said. “Fortunately, there was no disruption to the water supply and sensitive information remained secure.”
Quote courtesy of Leila Faul of Silver Jacket Communications.
