City Water Treatment Plants Face Growing Cybersecurity Threats
Kasindua “Kas” Simon Mayanga · 2025
City water treatment plants are vital for public health, providing clean drinking water to U.S. communities. A cyberattack can compromise this supply, introducing harmful pathogens and chemicals, leading to severe health threats. This research paper examines current cyber threats, highlights recent incidents, reviews cybersecurity weaknesses, identifies regulatory shortfalls, analyzes threat trends, evaluates strategic models, and proposes recommendations. A systematic literature review assessed scholarly findings on cybersecurity threats in water plants, uncovering over 40 relevant sources from various databases, including government reports and academic journals. Criteria were applied to evaluate peer-reviewed sources. The findings may raise awareness of overlooked cybersecurity risks in water treatment, impacting public health and national security. Without action, rural and small municipal systems risk inadequate defense, increasing public health emergencies and infrastructure failures.