[PLUG-TALK] Municipal water/waste water IT security

[Russell Senior]

>>>>> "Russell" == Russell Senior <russell at personaltelco.net> writes:

>>>>> "John" == John Jason Jordan <johnxj at gmx.com> writes:
John> On Tue, 22 Jun 2021 05:46:48 -0700 (PDT) Rich Shepard
John> <rshepard at appl-ecosys.com> dijo:

>>> Yesterday Brian Krebs wrote about IT and OT security at water supply
>>> and wastewater treatment facilities, "How Cyber Safe is Your
>>> Drinking Water Supply?". <https://krebsonsecurity.com/>
>>> 
>>> I asked a competent Troutdale city council member to read the
>>> article and let me know the cyber security status of the city's
>>> facilities. It would be interesting to compare the status of cyber
>>> security in our various municipalities.

John> A few years ago there was a flap in the press because some federal
John> rule suddenly required all water supply systems and reservoirs to
John> be enclosed. As I recall, this happened after 9/11, due to the
John> heightened need for security. Think of how easy it would be to
John> dump something toxic into the reservoir on Mt Tabor. As I recall,
John> the City of Portland made a huge fuss because 1) it would cost
John> millions and, 2) for many of our reservoirs it would likely be
John> impossible anyway. It was obvious to me that the idiots who made
John> the rule lived in flat country where 'reservoir' means a tank up
John> on poles, and it never occurred to them that in mountain country
John> we do things differently. Eventually the City of Portland
John> prevailed on this issue, but we are still sitting ducks.

Russell> https://www.portland.gov/water/about-portlands-water-system

Russell> As of today, all operational reservoirs are covered. The Mt
Russell> Tabor open reservoirs are still there, but aren't being used to
Russell> supply water. The formerly-open Washington Park reservoirs have
Russell> been undergoing remodelling for several years which will render
Russell> them covered. The main storage facility is at Powell Butte
Russell> (covered).  Part of the concern about the open reservoirs was
Russell> acceess to wildlife and potential contamination, e.g. birds
Russell> pooping, rodents etc.

Here's a document (from 2002) that discusses "Finished Water Storage":

  https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/2007_05_18_disinfection_tcr_whitepaper_tcr_storage.pdf
  

-- 
Russell Senior
russell at personaltelco.net