US lawmakers revisit rural water utilities' cyber security defences

U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) re-introduced two bipartisan bills to support rural water systems.

The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act, co-led by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), would help rural water and wastewater utilities prepare and become more resilient in the face of natural disasters and other extreme weather events.

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act would update technical assistance opportunities for cyber defence

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act, co-led by Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) would update technical assistance opportunities for cyber defence to address vulnerabilities in rural water systems.

“Between increasing cyber threats and extreme weather disasters, rural Nevadans are experiencing more and more challenges, and it’s critical that their drinking water and wastewater systems are optimised to withstand such events,” said Senator Cortez Masto, adding “My bipartisan legislation will help protect rural water utilities and ensure they have the resources they need to support our communities all year round.”

Legislation provides critical pre-disaster assistance

“Our rural water associations are on the frontlines when disasters strike, and our legislation gives them critical pre-disaster assistance to strengthen their ability to prepare and respond in these situations — whether tornadoes, hurricanes, or other disasters. It amounts to a smart investment in long-term resilience by ensuring rural water systems have the tools to address vulnerabilities and train for emergencies before disasters hit,” said Senator Hyde-Smith.

Senator Hyde-Smith adds, “I’m proud to renew this bipartisan effort with Senator Cortez Masto to protect our communities and improve disaster response for rural America.”

Modernise and expand the Circuit Rider Program

“As our near-peer adversaries continue to utilise cyber-attacks, we must have cyber security safeguards in place to protect our critical infrastructure such as water systems,” said Senator Rounds, adding “Our legislation would modernise and expand the Circuit Rider Program, providing cyber security-related technical assistance to rural water and wastewater systems.”

“This legislation is a much needed enhancement of our efforts to improve the cybersecurity of rural water systems. These water systems face real and immediate threats from both criminals and nation state actors that can have consequences on national security, economic productivity and public health and safety. The existing circuit rider program that this leverages is a proven vehicle for delivering security solutions,” said Rear Admiral (ret) Mark Montgomery, Executive Director of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.

Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act

“The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act of 2025 will improve the resiliency and disaster mitigation planning for rural communities, while also providing essential equipment and personnel to respond when disasters occur. The Cyber Security for Rural Water Systems Act of 2025 will create ‘Circuit Rider’ cyber security specialists who will directly deliver onsite training and technical assistance to rural utilities across our nation that lack the technical, financial, and managerial resources and in-house expertise to defend themselves from cyber threats,” said Matt Holmes, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Rural Water Association.

Matt Holmes adds, “On behalf of our 31,000 members, NRWA applauds Senators Cortez Masto, Hyde-Smith, and Rounds’ efforts to protect and enhance the public health and economic vitality of rural communities and create a more resilient, prepared, and secure Water Sector.”

Disasters and cyber threats can devastate small utilities

“RCAP is pleased to support both the Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act and the Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act, which addresses two critical challenges facing rural water and wastewater systems,” said Olga Morales Pate, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Rural Community Assistance Partnership.

Olga Morales Pate adds, “Disasters and cyber threats can devastate small utilities that often lack the resources to prepare and respond effectively. These bills provide essential funding and technical assistance to help rural communities enhance emergency preparedness, strengthen cyber security defences, and safeguard critical infrastructure. We commend the leadership of lawmakers championing these efforts and look forward to working alongside our partners to ensure rural systems remain resilient in the face of growing threats.”

Assistance program created at the USDA

Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act would create an assistance program

The Rural Water System Disaster Preparedness and Assistance Act would create an assistance program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help rural water and wastewater utilities identify vulnerabilities, map water infrastructure, develop disaster protocols, and train employees for emergency and disaster response.

This legislation is endorsed by the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) and Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP).

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act

The Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act would update and expand the Circuit Rider Program to assess the cybersecurity of small water and wastewater utilities, develop protocols to enhance cyber defences, and provide assistance to improve cyber protections. Currently, only 20% of water and wastewater systems across the U.S. have even basic levels of cyber protection. This legislation is endorsed by the NRWA, RCAP, and CyberSolarium 2.0.

Senator Cortez Masto is a strong supporter of Nevada’s rural and agricultural communities. She led the fight to protect family farms and ranches from an unfair tax hike. She has also introduced bipartisan legislation to put rural Western communities on an equal footing when it comes to applying for critical infrastructure grants, and additional bipartisan legislation to provide relief for taxpayers in states that have issued state-level disaster declarations.