(TLP:CLEAR) Senate Committee Advances WRDA 2026 with New Cybersecurity Provisions for Water Systems
Created: Thursday, July 23, 2026 - 15:13
Categories: Cybersecurity, Security Preparedness
Summary: The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee unanimously approved the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026), which reauthorizes U.S. EPA drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs and, for the first time, writes cybersecurity into several of them. The bill has cleared committee, not the full Senate, and provisions can still change.
As reported by Industrial Cyber, notable provisions include:
- Resilience program eligibility expanded beyond natural hazards to cover measures reducing cybersecurity vulnerabilities, at $25 million annually for FYs 2027 through 2030.
- Grants for digital infrastructure, including on-site cybersecurity training and technical assistance.
- Cybersecurity training added as an eligible workforce development activity, with authorization rising to $15 million annually.
- A report to Congress within three years on the state of water sector cybersecurity.
Analyst Note: Utilities that maintain a current risk and resilience assessment and OT asset inventory will be better positioned if these funding streams are enacted.
Members looking to strengthen asset inventories can start with CISA’s Asset Inventory Guidance for Owners and Operators, and Fundamental #5 of WaterISAC’s 12 Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities, which covers performing and maintaining asset inventories.
For risk and resilience assessments, U.S. EPA’s Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool (VSAT) remains the most widely used option for meeting America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Section 2013 requirements. EPA’s Water Sector Cybersecurity Evaluation Program offers a no-cost assessment conducted by EPA-approved evaluators.
Additional Reading:
- Senate Advances Water Infrastructure Bill With New Cybersecurity Protections
- U.S. EPA Water Sector Cybersecurity Resources
Related WaterISAC PIRs: 12