The Housatonic Water Company’s Long Pond Water Source and Treatment Facility could also be susceptible to cyberattacks, in keeping with a federal report, after the corporate obtained a $15,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to assist safe its techniques.
Berkshire Eagle
GREAT BARRINGTON — Like different water techniques throughout the nation, the Housatonic Water System seems to be below risk from cyberattacks and was just lately given funding to fight them.
The Housatonic Water Company introduced two grants totaling $365,000 on Tuesday, together with $350,000 for system upgrades to repair water discoloration brought on by manganese.
According to on-line trade publication Automation.com, a SCADA system contains monitoring tools unfold all through a water system to stop any form of sabotage or different issues.
“This grant will make sure the continued safety and integrity of our water administration operations,” mentioned James Mercer, co-owner and treasurer of the water utility.
The grant was awarded by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Environmental Protection Agency below the Emerging Contaminants Grant Program for Small or Disadvantaged Communities.
Cancer-related compounds in Housatonic’s consuming water spiked in February, however ranges stay slightly below security limits.
The federal Environmental Protection Agency issued a warning in May saying “threats and assaults on the Nation’s water techniques are rising in frequency and severity, making extra measures important.”
EPA is partnering with the FBI to boost consciousness amongst water system operators.
“Threat actors linked to the Iranian authorities’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have performed malicious cyber assaults in opposition to U.S. crucial infrastructure services, together with consuming water techniques,” White House officers wrote in a letter to governors in March.
The letter additionally listed different teams, together with Chinese state-sponsored cyber teams, the report mentioned.
But nearly all of the grant cash will go in direction of “the corporate’s manganese remediation program to deal with seasonal manganese discoloration in faucet water,” the corporate mentioned.
The discoloration has sparked riots within the Housatonic over its water turning from yellow to brown, an issue that is been round for many years however seems to have elevated lately.
This summer season’s discoloration has been notably powerful for affected residents.
The EPA and DEP have mentioned there are not any well being hazards and that it is an “aesthetic” subject, additional irritating residents and city well being officers.
The firm has additionally struggled to manage ranges of chlorination by-products which were linked to most cancers.
The firm is now ready for regulatory approval for charge will increase that won’t solely cowl the price of the $4.5 million improve, but additionally double buyer charges inside two years. The deadline for that call is Thursday.
Mercer mentioned development on these and different initiatives will start as quickly because the state Department of Public Utilities approves the speed will increase.