Protecting Water in a World of Growing Cyber Risks

With water utilities under attack, atmospheric water generation provides a resilient, off network safety net for homes and critical facilities. 

For many of us, the risk of contaminated drinking water can feel far-fetched, but as cyber-attacks continue to plague systems across the nation, the threat is often much closer than we think.  

In July 2026, cyber-attacks targeted and hit over 30 water management plants in Minnesota, and 9 in Michigan. According to the EPA, the hacks disrupt technology in charge of cleaning, testing, and distributing safe drinking water to homes and businesses. When that tech is compromised, pressure systems can be affected and pollutants like lead or human sewage can contaminate a population’s water supply.  

While keeping critical water infrastructure safe and secure will always be a priority, it doesn’t have to be the only line of defense for these kinds of cyber-attacks. Atmospheric water generators, for example, can provide a reliable and safe drinking water supply, independent of existing systems. 

Let’s dive into how these attacks work, the health risks associated with them, and what you can do to prepare yourself in the event of a threat.  

Hacking The Water Supply 

Water utility cyber-attacks are essentially the same thing as hacking an accounting firm or a credit card company.  

Hackers often access networks based on either stolen credentials or outdated security protocols. If they gain access to a control system and the water supply goes offline, the whole population can be affected. 

Most of the time, these attacks involve technology that lets operators remotely monitor and control equipment. This can look like programmable logic controllers or human-machine interfaces. Hackers can take these devices over and wreak havoc without ever stepping foot into the water treatment facility.  

According to Walt Waetjen, senior director of product and business development at Origen, “These are expensive facilities. [Hackers] can damage pumps, they can flood control rooms… They could also change the chemical dosing so that they’re either not dosing it with chlorine or whatever’s sanitizing the water, or they could overload it with chemicals, which could cause all sorts of other issues too.”  

But physical damage isn’t the only risk.  

“They could also affect the health and well-being of the service area. Whether that means they contaminate it by allowing unfiltered water through or switching flows,” said Waetjen. 

An affected water system is just the start. The real damage comes soon after.  

The Danger of Untreated Water 

When a community’s water supply is hit by a cyber-attack, it’s possible that contaminants in untreated water can make their way toward private residences.  

Public water systems use water treatment and monitoring to protect consumers from such contaminants, but they can’t do that when their systems fail. If your local system is impacted, it’s important to know the risks ahead of time.  

As noted by the EPA, potential contaminants and their health implications include:  

For the full list, you can visit the EPA’s page on contaminated drinking water. 

While most situations are resolvable before major damage occurs, it’s worth having a plan, or healthy water source alternative, in place.  

Plan A(WG) 

Atmospheric water generators (AWGs) for example, can be a trustworthy backup water source because they don’t need a network connection to operate. According to Waetjen, “Origen systems are all locally controlled. They’re intentionally designed not to have connectivity to an open network. Having a machine that intentionally does not have a PLC base, SCADA base, or a connected HMI means that machine is not going to be vulnerable to an outside attack.”  

Keeping an AWG connected to your house or a small facility separate from a network allows your water supply to remain fully intact when other systems fail.  

“I think from a city or municipality’s perspective, it’s a nice insurance plan. I don’t think you have to fully replace a large-scale water treatment facility with AWG, but you can have sensitive supply be able to be accommodated on a short-term basis through an emergency backup like this that is rapidly deployable.” 

For hospitals, military sites, and other sensitive locations that require water quickly, AWGs could be a key piece of the puzzle, supplying water while communities work to restore operations.  

With the right tools in hand, communities don’t have to be caught off guard in the event of a cyber-attack. By adding independent water sources like AWGs, households and municipalities alike can maintain a stable water supply even if traditional systems fail.