88a Under the Surface: How Chinese Hackers Got Into America’s Water Systems.

Why protecting water systems is becoming a national security issue, and how smarter digital identity can help.

1. A Hidden Threat Beneath Our Everyday Lives

Most people in the United States don’t think twice about turning on a faucet. But behind every glass of water lies a complex network of pumps, sensors, and computers that keep our water clean and flowing. In recent years, cybersecurity experts and U.S. government agencies have discovered that hackers linked to China have quietly broken into several American water systems. These hackers aren’t trying to cause immediate damage. Instead, they are secretly gaining access and waiting for the right time to strike — a tactic known as “pre-positioning.”
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have confirmed that Chinese state-backed hacker groups — such as Volt Typhoon — have successfully entered parts of U.S. infrastructure, including small-town water utilities. These break-ins could allow them to turn off pumps, change chemical levels, or stop water delivery if tensions ever rise between the U.S. and China.