WRRC Water Webinar Features Water Infrastructure Security
On Tuesday, February 10, water infrastructure security expert Charles Stack presented a WRRC webinar on the evolution of water security since 9/11. Stack started by summarizing the history of terrorist threats to water infrastructure, highlighting several innovative technologies developed to mitigate threats. Early security measures were simple strategies such as putting up fences and locking gates, but ever-advancing technology presents new challenges for security experts every year. Stack explained several potential threats that water security experts guard against including chemical or biological contamination of water, cyber-attack disruption of treatment systems, and sabotage of distribution system infrastructure. Growing steadily in number since the year 2000, cyber-attacks have received particular attention in recent years. Unmanned drones have become a major concern of cyber security because of their ability to infiltrate areas previously thought to be secure. As new threats continue to develop, Stack reassured his audience that law enforcement and security agencies work tireless to mitigate threats to America’s infrastructure.