Washington, D.C. — Today, Scott Dewhirst, Superintendent of Tacoma Water, is set to testify on behalf of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) before the House Subcommittee on Environment, Manufacturing, and Critical Minerals at a hearing on "Ensuring the Cybersecurity of America's Drinking Water Systems."
The association’s testimony will call for “a level of rigor and accountability” to encourage water systems to adopt appropriate cyber best practices for their size and risk profile. In order to help achieve this objective, AMWA requests federal support for expanding access to WaterISAC, full funding for authorized federal programs that support cyber investments, and cooperative efforts to incentivize the adoption of cyber best practices.
"Ensuring the cybersecurity of our nation's drinking water systems is paramount to safeguarding public health, water quality, and the trust of the communities we serve,” said AMWA CEO Tom Dobbins. “AMWA is committed to supporting resources like WaterISAC and advocating for crucial funding. By fortifying cybersecurity measures, we empower water utilities nationwide to thrive in the face of evolving threats, reinforcing the resilience of our essential water infrastructure."
During the hearing Dewhirst will underscore the efforts of Tacoma Water, as part of Tacoma Public Utilities, to prioritize cybersecurity best practices, engage in periodic threat exercises, partner with the Washington National Guard for cybersecurity assessments, and implement a cybersecurity roadmap.
A member of AMWA’s Board of Directors, Dewhirst has served as Superintendent of Tacoma Water since 2017. Prior to that, he led Newport News Waterworks in Virginia, where he is a licensed professional engineer. Dewhirst’s complete testimony is available online.
AMWA remains committed to enhancing water systems’ cyber defenses and collaborating with federal partners to secure needed funding and technical assistance for communities nationwide.
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The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) has been the unified and definitive voice for the nation’s largest publicly owned drinking water systems for over 40 years. AMWA’s membership services more than 160 million people with safe drinking water.
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