001-40 WC 143 JULY-AUG25 PT - Flipbook - Page 31
DRINKING WATER
Defending Water Systems
As cyber threats grow, utilities must adopt advanced technologies to
safeguard critical infrastructure
BY CODY P. BANN AND DAVID NOLAN
C
ANADIAN FRESHWATER SYSTEMS are
under strain from many threats, including
aging infrastructure and cyberattacks. Water
infrastructure is critical to national security,
economic stability, and public health and
safety. While necessary for operations, the increasing
automation of the water sector has opened it up to
malicious cyber activity that could disrupt or manipulate services.
Cody P. Bann is vice president
of engineering at Austin,
TX-based SmartSights.
David Nolan is industry
solutions manager at Austin,
TX-based SmartSights.
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
Infrastructure challenges
The 2019 Canadian Infrastructure Report Card examined
the state of Canada’s public infrastructure. Among the
key findings were that 30 per cent of water infrastructure
such as watermains and sewers were in fair, poor, or very
poor condition. Underground networks are among the
oldest water infrastructure. The average expected useful
life of new underground pipes installed in 2020 ranged
from 50 to 73 years. Fortunately, Canada’s federal government recently announced a major investment of over
$369.5 million to improve water and wastewater infrastructure across the country. Projects funded through this
initiative will enhance access to clean and reliable drinking
water, create new water sources, expand wastewater capacity, support sustainable stormwater management, and find
solid waste management solutions. This support will also
strengthen the infrastructure against cyberattacks. The diverse nature of the water and wastewater sector and a lack
of cybersecurity governance protocols present significant
[cybersecurity] challenges.
Remote alarm
noti昀椀cation software
protects against
cyberattacks by deploying noti昀椀cation
solutions alongside
the SCADA system
at the network’s
control level.
WATER C AN ADA • JULY/AUGUS T 2025
31
