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Foreign Actors Hack Colorado Water Systems
19 Sep
Summary
- Hackers altered pumping cycles, disabled alarms, and changed equipment settings.
- No impact on drinking water quality or treatment processes reported.
- This adds to over 100 cyberattacks on U.S. water systems this year.
Two Colorado water utilities experienced intrusions by foreign actors last month, who manipulated pumping cycles, disabled alarms, and altered equipment settings. State officials confirmed that these cyberattacks, though concerning, did not impact the quality of drinking water or treatment processes. The affected systems served approximately 400 people.
These incidents contribute to a disturbing pattern of over 100 cyberattacks on U.S. water and wastewater systems across 12 states this year. Federal authorities have previously warned about malicious actors targeting operational technology, including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), which manage physical equipment.
The breaches underscore longstanding cybersecurity vulnerabilities, particularly within small and rural utilities that often have limited resources. Federal agencies are collaborating with utilities and states to identify and mitigate these risks, having addressed hundreds of vulnerabilities and provided extensive technical assistance.
