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Newsletter #429 - April 1, 2026 |
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New Report: What Utilities Need to Know About Iranian Cyber Threats |
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Recent geopolitical tensions are driving increased cyber activity by Iranian‑linked threat actors, and water and wastewater utilities remain a key target. A new WaterISAC report breaks down the repeatable tactics these actors use to gain access, stay hidden, and cause disruption. This is often accomplished by exploiting weak credentials, using phishing emails, and taking advantage of unpatched systems rather than through sophisticated malware.
The report highlights how attackers increasingly abuse legitimate tools, cloud services, and trusted access to blend into normal operations, with a growing emphasis on identity‑based attacks and large‑scale disruptive campaigns. It also outlines practical, utility‑focused mitigations aligned with WaterISAC’s 12 Fundamentals to help organizations reduce risk right now.
Read the full report for a deeper look at real‑world tactics, recent incidents, and clear steps utilities can take to strengthen their defenses. |
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U.S. EPA seeks public feedback on water affordability tool |
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking for public input on its Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) guidance. This an important resource that helps water bills remain affordable during infrastructure upgrades within wastewater systems. EPA will use the public feedback to update this guidance to reflect the ability of rate payers to financially support these upgrades while also considering the potential impacts for rural communities.
"The guidance provides information on how to assess a community’s financial capability as part of negotiating implementation schedules under both permits and enforcement agreements. In addition, the guidance identifies specific ways to consider economic impacts to public entities when determining water quality standards variances and during antidegradation reviews."
After reviewing input from the public, EPA will consider revisions to the guidance in order to address public concerns as part of its ongoing commitment to working with communities to protect human health and ensure practical implementation.
EPA plans to hold two virtual meetings to discuss the guidance before the public comment period closes.
EPA will accept comments through May 26, 2026, via the Federal eRulemaking portal, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2026-1090. |
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Missed our last webinar? Watch the recording! |
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Energy Optimization and Cost‑Saving Strategies for Wastewater Utilities
This webinar recording provides an overview of energy efficiency best practices to reduce operational costs at wastewater facilities. It includes a review of publicly available resources to explore cost-saving improvements and demonstration of our search tools at WaterOperator.org to find additional free resources and training events.
This webinar series covers topics relevant to wastewater operators, including funding, asset management, compliance, and water quality.
For informational purposes only. We are unable to offer certificates for watching a video recording.
Recordings of our previous webinars:
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Featured Video |
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A New Strategy: Water Is National Security
waterloop
"Water is emerging as a defining factor in U.S. economic growth and national security—from where data centers and energy projects can scale to how communities absorb the rising costs of floods, droughts, and insurance risk.
In response, a new Aspen National Water Strategy has been released, laying out a plan to rethink how the country manages water. This episode is a conversation with the co-leads for developing the strategy, Martin Doyle of Duke University and Newsha Ajami of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
Their central argument is a shift in framing: water is not just an environmental or local utility issue—it’s a core economic input and a strategic asset.
The conversation explores how that plays out today, from AI and energy demands tied to water availability to insurers effectively redrawing the map of risk across the country. It also gets into what’s holding the system back, including fragmented governance, outdated infrastructure models, and policies that don’t align with how water actually moves through watersheds.
The strategy outlines priorities including governing for outcomes instead of process, investing in rural landscapes that underpin national water supply, and expanding infrastructure to include natural systems, data, and people.
Doyle and Ajami also highlight the need to remove barriers to adopting solutions that already exist, and to rethink financing and business models so innovation can scale. It’s a clear-eyed look at how water is shaping the economy and risk landscape today—and what it will take to treat it as the national priority it has become." |
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Upcoming Cybersecurity Webinars |
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Cybersecurity 103 Training | Register
April 8, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
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This training builds on EPA’s Cybersecurity 102 Training for Water Systems, providing further details on cybersecurity threats facing the water sector. Participants will learn about state-sponsored threats, risks to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, malware, and vulnerabilities within Human-Machine Interfaces (HMIs). The course also highlights real-world cybersecurity incidents impacting water systems, emphasizes the importance of staying informed on emerging threats, and outlines incident reporting processes and available cybersecurity resources to support preparedness and resilience.
Water Sector Cybersecurity Vulnerability Snapshot Quarterly Webinar | Register
April 9, 2026 | 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET
Cybersecurity Refresher Training | Register
April 15, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 PM ET
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This refresher training to water and wastewater utilities will reinforce their foundational understanding of cybersecurity and how it applies to the water sector. This training will cover topics from Cybersecurity 101, Cybersecurity 102, and Cybersecurity 103 trainings.
Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist Tool Training | Register
April 29, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
Building Cyber Resilience Using EPA’s Water and Wastewater Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan Template | Register
April 30, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
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EPA invites water sector professionals to learn about its new Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan Template. This fully customizable template is designed to help all utilities prepare for, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents affecting both information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) systems. In this webinar you will receive instructions on how utility personnel can access, tailor, and operationalize the plan to meet system-specific needs.
Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool Training | Register
May 13, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET
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Featured Video |
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Tell Me More—Removing lead pipes, how Minnesota protects drinking water
Conservation Minnesota
"There is no safe level of lead consumption, and lead service lines remain a persistent threat to Minnesota communities. In 2023, the state legislature passed the Lead Service Line Replacement Bill, that set a goal to replace all lead water service lines by 2033 and approved an initial $240 million to begin the work. That money has now been allocated, and more funding is needed to keep us on track to achieve the goal.
Check out [this] panel discussion with Representative Sydney Jordan, Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson, and Brent Marsolek, Lead Free Project Manager with St. Paul Regional Water Services, about what work has been done so far and what still needs to happen to ensure lead-free water in Minnesota." |
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Check out our self-paced cybersecurity course! |
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In just one hour, course participants will learn about water sector threats, basic cybersecurity measures, incident response, system resilience, and valuable resources, with the goal of fostering a culture of cybersecurity within their organizations.
Regardless of the size of the water system, this course empowers everyone, from field workers to office staff, to contribute to maintaining a reliable and resilient water system.
This course was developed with MassDEP funding through a partnership with UMass. The course content was created by Andrew Hildick-Smith. Please note that Massachusetts operators should take this version of the course.
All students will receive a 1-hour class certificate for their participation. |
| Enroll for Free |
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Bridging the Engineering Gap: Helping Small Water Systems Navigate SRF Projects
April 2, 2026 | 1:00 PM ET
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
This free webinar explores the engineering hurdles that frequently delay or derail SRF‑funded projects and underscores the importance of collaboration among utilities, regulators, engineers, and technical assistance providers. The session emphasizes the role of the technical assistance provider in bridging communication gaps, translating technical and regulatory language, and supporting informed decision making—without supplanting the roles of regulators or engineers through technical assistance.
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Finding a Unicorn! Small Wastewater System Funding Series: Negotiating Indirect Rate Agreements
April 7, 2026 | 1:00 PM ET
Environmental Finance Center Network
This free webinar will review the federal requirements around establishing an indirect rate with a cognizant agency for organizations receiving federal awards or contracts. This session will also focus on how to apply indirect rates to allowable costs including recent updates to federal Uniform Administrative Guidelines.
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Improving Wastewater Compliance by Properly Funding Infrastructure Replacement
April 9, 2026 | 1:00 PM ET
Rural Community Assistance Partnership
This free webinar will discuss the importance of properly funding infrastructure replacement. It will describe how to determine the amount of money needed to replace failing infrastructure, building off of asset management. It will identify the federal funding sources for infrastructure loans and grants, as well as discuss strategies utilities can use to access these funds. Finally, the webinar will explore the potential cost to the utility of delaying necessary infrastructure replacement projects. |
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Recent Blog Posts at WaterOperator.org |
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Essential Safety Resources for Wastewater Operators
Read Here » |
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Preparing for LCRI Compliance: Key Insights from NRWA
Read Here » |
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Community Engagement Resources for Wastewater Utilities
Read Here » |
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Groundwater & Well Care for Public Water Systems is a free online course from WaterOperator.org. Certificates are provided and the course is currently pre-approved for 2 hours continuing education credit in a number of states.
Click here to learn more. |
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