North Carolina utilities are working to protect drinking water from the impacts of climate change and growing cybersecurity threats. Researchers say smaller water systems often face greater hurdles due to limited resources.

Climate Change Impacts

Climate change is bringing more extreme weather, and utilities are rethinking how they plan for droughts, flooding, and digital threats to keep water flowing safely. A new study led by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researcher Dr. Zia Lyle projects that 18% of North Carolina’s drinking water systems face a moderate or high risk from climate-related hazards.

Raleigh Water, for example, is preparing for the future by planning for weather patterns that are becoming less predictable. The utility is modeling what it calls a ‘Frankenstein drought’ by combining conditions from the current drought with the historic 2007-08 drought to understand how the system would respond to an even more severe event.

Cybersecurity Concerns

Cybersecurity is also a growing concern for water utilities. The Orange Water and Sewer Authority has a dedicated team to cybersecurity and works with IT professionals to ensure the safety of its infrastructure. Utilities are routinely targeted by ransomware attempts and other cyber threats, making employee training and constant vigilance essential.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.