Increasing Robustness and Resilience of Water Delivery Infrastructure

This white paper outlines the need for a national testing capability for water treatment and delivery infrastructure to enhance energy-water resilience (EWR) and address existing knowledge and technology gaps. The vulnerability of water systems to contamination, physical compromise, and infrastructure failures underscores the importance of establishing this capability to improve resilience and inform utility investments in critical components.

The U.S. water systems are essential for public health, safety, and economic security, with approximately 148,000 public water systems serving as lifelines for critical infrastructure. However, many of these systems are small, publicly owned, and resource-poor, making them attractive targets for malicious actors. Aging infrastructure leads to significant water loss, with about 15% of treated water wasted annually.

The absence of a large-scale operational technology (OT) testing environment hinders the ability to proactively address vulnerabilities. Current testing methods rely on emulation rather than real-world scenarios, preventing effective preparation for potential incidents. Idaho National Laboratory (INL) hosts the Water Security Test Bed (WSTB), which provides a secure environment for testing water system decontamination methods and equipment failures without risking public health. The WSTB is uniquely positioned to explore the interdependencies between water systems and the electricity grid, enabling comprehensive testing of control systems and automation solutions.

Establishing a national testing and training capability for water systems will enable data-driven infrastructure investments and strengthen state and local preparedness. Success will be measured by reductions in water losses, improved system hardening, and increased resilience against cyber-attacks and natural disasters. Near-term success will be indicated by the implementation of the testing capability, while long-term results will reflect a growth in trained operators and enhanced planning sophistication among utilities for security upgrades.