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8/6/2026
WT Staff
 Got water questions? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@wtga.us
Aug 6, 2026 724 pm EDT
FBI urges water plants to unplug PLC's from the world wide web, before we see worse
Clayton County issued a BWA following the failure of a pump on July 27, dropping water pressure in the transmission mains and delivery lines below the safe limit, exposing treated drinking water to potential microbiologial contamination.
Days later, the FBI reports the pump failure may have been caused by a cyber attack on the local water treatment plants operating technology.
See WT article How water utilities will be defending against cyber-attacks in 2026, here.
From the Current, an article titled Expert says Georgia water system attack highlights critical security deficiencies, "Cyber experts warn that internet-connected controllers in water systems are highly vulnerable to remote access"
by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder August 6th, 2026
Multiple media outlets including the Current and Atlanta Constitution are reporting today,
"Clayton County authorities say a boil water advisory and low water pressure may have been part of a multistate cyber campaign targeting water infrastructure that could be linked to Iran."
The only foolproof cybersecurity move is to unplug from the internet. Water operators have no need of exposure to the internet to perform their duties safely and securely. The operating technology can be managed on site, in real time, with trusted operators. All it takes is a board of directors that understands the implications of remote access and the resulting risk to public health to order the disconnect.
See CYBER101 TRAINING FOR CYBER-HYGIENE, WT Interview with Guillaume Bélanger, President of Exosource, here.
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