According to Axios, suspected Iran-linked cyberattacks are highlighting long-standing vulnerabilities in the fragmented U.S. drinking water sector, where aging infrastructure and climate threats are adding pressure on utilities. Kevin Morley of the American Water Works Association said utilities now must manage acute cybersecurity risks alongside chronic problems such as climate change and infrastructure deterioration.

The Environmental Protection Agency says there are more than 144,000 public water systems in the U.S., including about 50,000 community water systems that serve residents year-round, and it identified vulnerabilities at 277 water systems last year. Axios reported that the sector's fragmentation makes it harder to modernize infrastructure and maintain consistent cybersecurity standards, while many smaller utilities lack the staff and funding to strengthen defenses. The American Water Works Association this week sent a letter to Congress urging federal support for utilities as critical infrastructure.