What's the deal with water?

A

ArnoldC

Member
Location
Texas, USA
Keep seeing articles popping up about imminent attacks on the U.S. water infrastructure. Lots of bloviating and history lessons. Not much substance as to how citizens should prepare for this or even a reassuring word from officials.

Reading that the EPA and White House Security Advisor sent a WARNORD (Warning Order) to state governors concerning the issue. Beyond that. . . silence to the consumer. Wondering what you all know of this or is it just another knee-jerk reaction to yet another in a long list of "maybe's?"
 

The Biden Administration Warns Water Sector About Cybersecurity Attacks

21 March 2024
Today in Security
The Biden administration is warning states that cyberattacks are targeting U.S. water and wastewater systems.

In a letter sent to all U.S. governors, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the White House cautioned that such “attacks have the potential to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water.” The letter was signed by EPA administrator Michael Regan and national security advisor Jake Sullivan.

The letter, sent on 19 March, included the announcement that the EPA, along with the Water Sector and Water Government Coordinating Councils, is forming a Water Sector Cybersecurity Task Force. The task force will consider cyber vulnerabilities of water systems and identify actions utilities can take to reduce the risks.

more at : https://www.asisonline.org/security...ity/2024/march/epa-white-house-water-threats/
 

Water in plastic bottles has plastic in it. Water from the faucet should be filtered before use in cooking or drinking.
Water in general won't kill you right away usually. It just has stuff in it. If you were stationed in Camp Lejeune you are
already on the dead or dying list but you can contact St. Harvard and get your settlement check. ... (y)

Cement dust, tire dust, dust from gravel roads is much worser. Things falling off Boeing stuff is not good.

Aliens are definitely after our abundant H2O & fresh rainwater can be a blessing or curse depending on if it is neck high.
 
The responsibility for securing the city’s water infrastructure typically falls upon a combination of government agencies, local authorities, and utility companies. Here are the key players involved:

Municipal or Local Government: The local government, such as city councils or county authorities, plays a crucial role in overseeing water infrastructure. They are responsible for setting policies, regulations, and funding priorities related to water supply and distribution.
Water Utility Companies: Public or private water utility companies manage the day-to-day operations of water treatment plants, distribution networks, and sewage systems. They ensure that water quality meets safety standards and maintain the physical infrastructure.
Environmental Protection Agencies: Federal, state, and local environmental agencies monitor water quality, enforce regulations, and provide guidelines for safe water management. They collaborate with other stakeholders to address environmental concerns.
Cybersecurity Experts and IT Professionals: Given the increasing reliance on technology, securing water infrastructure against cyber threats is essential. IT professionals within water utility companies or contracted cybersecurity firms work on safeguarding digital systems.
Emergency Services and First Responders: In case of emergencies, such as natural disasters or cyberattacks, emergency services (firefighters, police, etc.) play a critical role in ensuring public safety and responding promptly.
Collaboration and Partnerships: Effective water infrastructure security requires collaboration among various entities, including federal agencies (such as the Department of Homeland Security), state agencies, and private-sector partners.
Remember that water infrastructure security is a shared responsibility, and coordination among these stakeholders is vital to protect our water supply and prevent disruptions.



Some Water Supplies in Cities are Computer controlled. It would seem Encryption and Opening the switch that lets em go online would work well. I'm going to bet its more about sending you the bill and auto deduct from your bank account would be the open topic. Just create more high paying government jobs is the answer of course.
 
dilettante said:
How much can you really do without an independent supply? Look at a water bill then imagine storing even a tenth of that. How many gallons would you need to store even to go five days in a temporary emergency? Most of us really aren't in a position to even do that with a rationing plan
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Many who live rural in S.C. have 300 gallons of water stored above in the garage. That's about a ton. H2O, gasoline & a portable charger
are also a have to have. They stock up on Cases of Bottled water to drink, the other is for cleaning. Sherriff makes them leave if they have not the stuff.

The Chinese were touring American Water Co's in 2019.
 
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dilettante said:
How much can you really do without an independent supply? Look at a water bill then imagine storing even a tenth of that. How many gallons would you need to store even to go five days in a temporary emergency? Most of us really aren't in a position to even do that with a rationing plan
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Whatever you can put in water, you can somehow remove it, but if you don't have any, you've got three days of life left.
 
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Remember to choose a filter that suits your specific needs, whether it’s for solo trips, group outings, or ultralight backpacking. Stay hydrated out there!
 
If we ever lose access to clean water here, half the population of Sacramento will move to the river. (we actually have 2 major rivers)

I suppose a WARNORD would be passed on to each state's National Guard (or its equivalent) and they'd mobilize truck loads of bottled water to as many cities as possible.

When there was a major wildfire up near Susanvile, the Calif Nat'l Guard came in with truck loads of bottled water while we all waited for evacuation orders. And Cal-Fire drove around in water trucks dousing tinder areas around schools, businesses and houses that were at serious risk.

And I read later that a few people drove up to a couple of the water trucks with empty portable tanks in their truckbeds and the Cal-Fire guys filled them up for them. Not sure if it's ok to drink that water, but apparently, they didn't have time to discuss it.
 
papa tiger said:
Water from the faucet should be filtered before use in cooking or drinking.
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I don't recall where you live, Papa - but our tap water is safe to drink. Hell, I drink it every day. I don't cook with it, but only because I rarely boil or steam things. That said, as a Brit it is my duty to drink my daily ration of tea using boiled tap water.

Again, I don't know where you are, but the whole "tap water isn't safe to drink" is largely a lie told by those putting water into bottle and selling it as supermarkets. At least in the western world.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
I drink our tap water also. It’s safe for drinking but we do filter it first, just in case. We have a 375 foot drilled well.
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In my previous home I had to buy a new kettle every 18 months due to the amount of limescale. But it varies from place to place, and my current home has less of a problem. Mind you, minerals in water - such as limescale - are said to be good for you, and add a certain taste people prefer.

We are blessed to live in countries where, for a large number of people, drinkable water is available in every home.
 
VaughanJB said:
In my previous home I had to buy a new kettle every 18 months due to the amount of limescale. But it varies from place to place, and my current home has less of a problem. Mind you, minerals in water - such as limescale - are said to be good for you, and add a certain taste people prefer.

We are blessed to live in countries where, for a large number of people, drinkable water is available in every home.
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Don’t buy new kettles. Just boil vinegar in the kettle. It’ gets rid of all that scaly stuff. You can even get filters to take that stuff out.
Vinegar your glass shower door too if you have one.
 
PeppermintPatty said:
Don’t buy new kettles. Just boil vinegar in the kettle. It’ gets rid of all that scaly stuff. You can even get filters to take that stuff out.
Vinegar your glass shower door too if you have one.
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I hear you, PP. My wife would have cleaning practices. I'm just a man, and yeah..... :D
 
Our water supply is from a rural water system and it is safe to drink the tap water as are most water supplies in the US but
hacking threats are everywhere and a big percentage of our water systems are run by small towns and rural areas, I doubt they have sufficient funds for cyber security.
 
Sciguy said:
When you say your water is safe, I assume you mean you had it analyzed by a laboratory? That is something most well owners rarely, if ever, do.
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We had our private well tested before buying this rural house. Nutrients, metals, volatiles and semivolatiles, PCB, PBB, total and fecal coliform bacteria, and radon. We have that done every five years. A bit costly but worth it to me. Our water is perfectly safe.

I'm not sure how effective a cyber attack on a public water supply would be. When I was last involved with that industry, most had sufficient backup power sources and virtually every aspect of operations could be manually overridden and controlled. My greater concern was always toxins or pathogens introduced, intentionally or unintentionally, into the distribution side of the system.
 
I would be much more in fear of the possibility that terrorists could use poison or radioactive substances to kill millions of people of a megacity by using them for waterworks.
 
claude.ai :

The threat of terrorists targeting a city's water supply with poisonous or radioactive materials is an alarming scenario that authorities take very seriously. Here are some key points about this risk:

  • Water infrastructure like reservoirs, treatment plants and distribution systems are considered critical infrastructure that require robust security measures to prevent and deter such attacks.
  • Introducing chemical, biological or radiological agents into a large municipal water system could potentially expose millions to dangerous contamination if successful.
  • However, there are several mitigating factors that make this threat difficult to actualize compared to some other terror tactics:
    • Securing chemicals/materials and getting them into secure water facilities undetected poses challenges.
    • Many contaminants are filtered out or would be detected by monitoring systems before distribution.
    • Large quantities would be needed to impact an entire water supply for a major city.
    • Water systems have emergency response plans to isolate and remediate contamination incidents.
  • While the consequences could be catastrophic if such an attack succeeded, the logistics and resources required make it an extremely high-risk, high-complexity operation for terror groups.
  • Disrupting a water supply would likely be viewed as an economic/infrastructure attack rather than a mass casualty event.
So in summary, while this threat cannot be dismissed and must be guarded against, robust security measures are in place around water systems. Authorities likely assess other tactics like active shooter attacks or bombings as more probable threats from terrorists. But water security rightly remains a top priority.
 
Sciguy said:
When you say your water is safe, I assume you mean you had it analyzed by a laboratory? That is something most well owners rarely, if ever, do.
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Yeah, when we primed the old well on our mountain property, I consulted an old friend, a well driller, about getting the water analyzed
He said ' Just taste it'

I reluctantly took a sip

It.....was....delicious

I could sell it

Drank quarts of it every day, for the six years we lived up there.
 
dilettante said:
How many gallons would you need to store even to go five days in a temporary emergency?
Click to expand...
We can manage to go a week on 100 gallons in our camper for everything but consumption. We don't drink water from the tank. Having a hand dug well, We can drop a bucket on a rope if we need to. Or walk about 150 yards and dip it out of the spring. My family been drinking this water since 85,. The lady born and raised here till in her 20s is around too.

papa tiger said:
Katadyn BeFree 0.6L: Ideal for thru-hiking,
Click to expand...
Have had a Katadyn Hiker for years and love it. Actually got 4 extra filters for a SHTF situation.
 

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