This Act updates security and resilience planning requirements for community water systems, focusing assessments on 2026–2031 and mandating training specifically for cybersecurity threats.
Ruben Gallego
Senator
AZ
The Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2025 updates requirements for community water systems regarding security and resilience planning. It revises the timeline for mandatory risk assessments to focus on the period between 2026 and 2031. Furthermore, the Act mandates that security training and materials must specifically address preparation for and response to cyberattacks.
Water Cybersecurity Bill Shifts Focus to Cyberattacks, Mandates New Training for Water Systems
The Water Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2025 is a short, sharp update to how our community water systems handle security. Think of it as a mandatory software patch for the Safe Drinking Water Act. This legislation primarily addresses two things: when water systems need to prove they’ve checked their security risks, and what kind of training they need to focus on moving forward.
The New Timeline: Assessing Risk in the Digital Age
First, the bill changes the required timeline for community water systems to conduct their risk and resilience assessments. Previously, the law referenced the 2020–2021 period. The new law pushes this required assessment period to 2026 through 2031 (SEC. 2). Why does this matter? Because a risk assessment done five years ago is essentially ancient history in cybersecurity terms. By resetting the clock, the bill forces systems to evaluate their vulnerabilities based on today's threats, not yesterday’s. For the average person, this means the infrastructure keeping your tap water clean is being checked against the latest digital threats.
Mandating Cyber-Specific Training
This is the most critical update. The bill explicitly mandates that security training programs and materials purchased by water systems must now focus specifically on protecting against and responding to cyberattacks (SEC. 2). Before this, systems had broader security requirements. Now, the emphasis is laser-focused on digital defense. Imagine a small-town water utility manager who previously spent their security budget on new fences or better locks. This bill says, 'That’s great, but you also need to train your team on how to stop a hacker from remotely shutting down the pump station or poisoning the water supply data.'
This change acknowledges a harsh reality: the biggest threat to critical infrastructure isn't always physical; it's often a line of malicious code. For the 25-to-45 crowd who understand the risks of ransomware and data breaches, this focus makes perfect sense. It’s about ensuring the people running the pipes and pumps are also equipped to handle a targeted digital assault. While this might mean some immediate compliance costs for water systems to upgrade training, the trade-off is a much more secure water supply for everyone.