Cybersecurity incident at Arkansas City water treatment plant

The city of Arkansas, Kansas, experienced a cybersecurity issue at its water treatment plant early Sunday morning, September 22, 2024.

The authorities were immediately notified and precautionary measures were taken to ensure the safety of plant operations.

City Manager Randy Frazer assured residents that the water supply remained completely safe and there had been no disruptions.

“Despite the incident, the water supply remains completely safe and there have been no disruptions,” Frazer said in a press release. “Out of an abundance of caution, the water treatment plant has switched to manual operation while the situation is being resolved. Residents can be assured that their drinking water is safe and the city is operating under full control during this time.”

Cybersecurity experts and government agencies are working to resolve the situation and restore the facility to normal operations.

Increased safety measures are currently in place to protect the water supply. No changes in water quality or service are expected for the population.

The industry reacts

“Here we go again – another water treatment plant has been compromised,” said Shawn Waldman, CEO and founder of Secure Cyber. “Although Arkansas City has assured that there is no immediate threat to drinking water, it is worth discussing how such critical infrastructure becomes vulnerable to cyberattacks.”

“The recent cyber incident at the Arkansas City Water Treatment Plant underscores the growing cybersecurity challenges facing critical infrastructure, particularly in the water and wastewater sector,” said Itay Glick, VP of Products at OPSWAT. “Fortunately, there was no disruption to water supply and confidential information remained protected.”

Quotes courtesy of Leila Faul of Silver Jacket Communications.