ABOUT US - WaterISAC

MISSION

WaterISAC serves as the communications and information-sharing organization for the water sector, uniting utilities, security experts, and government partners to deliver actionable intelligence, strengthen resilience, and protect critical water infrastructure nationwide.

VISION

A secure, resilient, and connected water sector where every utility — large to small — can prepare for, mitigate, and respond to and recover from all threats and hazards.

VALUES

Trust
We uphold the highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and respect — creating a trusted space where members can share and learn with confidence.

Collaboration
We believe our greatest strength is our community. By connecting utilities, experts, and partners, we enable collective defense and sector-wide resilience.

Actionable Intelligence
We deliver timely, relevant insights that help members make informed decisions and act decisively to protect themselves from threats.

Resilience
We are committed to helping utilities prepare for, mitigate, and respond to and recover from all hazards — ensuring the continuity of essential water and wastewater services.

Service
We exist to serve those who protect public health and the environment. Every initiative we undertake supports the sector’s mission to provide safe, reliable water, including by sharing information and resources to help protect utility operators from harm.

Innovation
We embrace new ideas and emerging technologies that strengthen the security and resilience of the water sector.

Stewardship
We take seriously our role in safeguarding the nation’s critical water infrastructure, recognizing it as a shared responsibility and a public trust.

Our Partner Organizations

The Board of Managers

The WaterISAC Board of Managers is comprised of nine members representing metropolitan, regional utilities, as well as associations that serve the water and wastewater sector.

Combined, the Board of Managers, has over 100 years of service spanning roles in operations, finance, engineering, construction, physical security, information technology (CISO), cybersecurity and AI, insider threat/counterintelligence, protection, emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

The Board of Mangers guides the WaterISAC by providing operational oversight and strategic direction. The Board also oversees the WaterISAC’s financial and fiduciary management.

Learn about WaterISAC's Board of Managers and personnel. (Members Only)

The Physical Security and Resilience Advisory Committee

WaterISAC's Physical Security and Resilience Advisory Committee (PSRAC) provides strategic guidance and subject matter expertise on issues related to physical security, natural disasters, and operational resilience for the water and wastewater sector. The PSRAC meets for one hour each month to discuss physical security and resilience priorities and opportunities for the sector. During these meetings, members offer input to inform the development of reports, presentations, exercises, and more for both WaterISAC members and the broader water and wastewater sector. Additionally, the meetings provide a forum for PSRAC members to engage with one another, to include by trading lessons learned and best practices.

The PSRAC is composed of 12 water and wastewater utility security professionals, along with WaterISAC staff. PSRAC members have over 100 years of combined experience in physical security, emergency management, and risk and resilience planning roles. Leveraging their extensive experience and expertise, WaterISAC gains invaluable insights regarding water and wastewater utilities’ greatest physical security and resilience challenges and identify practical and effective means to help the sector address its risks. Given its role, the PSRAC is essential to WaterISAC’s mission of increasing the physical security and resilience of the water and wastewater sector.

The Cybersecurity Advisory Committee

The Cybersecurity Advisory Committee (CAC) supports WaterISAC’s mission of protecting the cybersecurity and resilience of the water and wastewater sector. It was established as a trusted body of experts that guides initiatives, shapes sector-related resources and cultivates collaboration across member organizations.

The CAC is provides strategic guidance and subject matter expertise to help WaterISAC enhance its offerings and leads initiatives that strengthen cyber resilience for WaterISAC members.

The CAC boasts an impressive, combined cybersecurity experience of nearly two centuries. Members are responsible for various water and wastewater system cybersecurity leadership and management roles across OT and IT; they also include an executive director. The CAC represents multiple sizes of utilities serving populations varying from nearly 2 million to less than 10,000, with half serving more than 200,000. This range of roles and utility types and sizes translate to a far-reaching and deep understanding of the sector’s cybersecurity and resilience challenges that inform WaterISAC’s initiatives and support its overall mission.

The Security Network of the Water and Wastewater Sector

The U.S. water and wastewater sector’s leading national associations and research foundations established the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC) in 2002, in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That same year, it was authorized by Congress in the Bioterrorism Act. WaterISAC is the designated information sharing and operations arm of the Water Sector Coordinating Council.

Strength in Numbers Makes WaterISAC Unique

WaterISAC is the only all-threats security information source for the water and wastewater sector. We serve over 3,800 water sector personnel across several hundred utilities and other organizations. Our utility members provide water and wastewater service to most of the United States, and we also serve utilities in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Membership is also open to organizations in the U.K. and the Netherlands.

In addition to water and wastewater utilities, our members include local state/provincial and federal agencies; law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security agencies; consulting and engineering firms; and utility associations.

A Nonprofit Owned and Managed by the Sector

WaterISAC is a non-profit organization, governed by a board of managers comprising water and wastewater utility managers and state drinking water administrators who are appointed by the partner organizations shown above. Built from the ground up to serve the water sector, WaterISAC is uniquely positioned to understand and support the sector’s needs.

Tapping Information Sources to Support Sector Security and Resilience

WaterISAC has established secure and close contact with partners in government to access sensitive and classified security information. WaterISAC maintains two-way communication with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the FBI, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state intelligence fusion centers, and other federal and state agencies. Through the National Council of ISACs, we also collaborate with more than two-dozen other ISACs, particularly with the Electricity ISAC. We also amass intelligence and resources from selected security experts, water and wastewater industry partners, news media, and our own members.

Analysis and Curation Saves You Time and Supercharges Your Security

WaterISAC is the most comprehensive and targeted single point source for data, facts, case studies, and analysis on water security and threats from intentional contamination, terrorism and cyber crime. WaterISAC also provides analysis and resources to support response, mitigation, and resilience initiatives. We deliver timely, actionable information you can put to use right away to supercharge your security.

What Our Members Say

“ WaterISAC provides in-depth water safety and security information not available anywhere else. ”

Security Manager
Metro Water Services of Nashville

“ What I value most is very timely access to a wealth of relevant information. The WaterISAC resource library is quite impressive, and new items are added on a daily basis spanning a wide array of security and emergency management subjects. ”

Asset & Emergency Management Specialist
Mount Pleasant Waterworks, S.C.

“ You are flying blind if you are not a member of WaterISAC. You will likely never have the in-house resources to fully understand all of the threats out there. ”

Assistant General Manager-Water

Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power

“ I consider WaterISAC the most valuable source I have for water and wastewater situational awareness. It’s a force multiplier for me because I am a one person shop and the account lets me share content with multiple users. ”

Security & Emergency Manager

Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, N.C.

“ WaterISAC allows you to cut through the noise of security information from other sources. Most utilities have limited budgets and WaterISAC has stepped up to provide security threat information that is easily accessible and reasonably priced.”

Water Security Manager

Milwaukee Water Works

“ WaterISAC provides us with all the information that is relevant to our industry, all in one fell swoop, so we don’t have to hunt for it. I most value WaterISAC for its consolidation of threats that are coming in around the world that are directly to the water sector. ”

Senior Engineer

Greater Cincinnati Water Works

“ WaterISAC provides vital water security knowledge and information for utilities. ”

Assistant Water Services Director

Phoenix Water Services Department