Hackers 'hit' US water treatment systems

The alleged attack was made on a system that piped clean water to homes in Illinois.

Hackers are alleged to have destroyed a pump used to pipe water to thousands of homes in a US city in Illinois.

Hackers with access to the utility's network are thought to have broken the pump by turning it on and off quickly.

The FBI and Department for Homeland Security (DHS) are investigating the incident as details emerge of what could be a separate second attack.

Experts said the news revealed a growing interest in critical infrastructure by cyber criminals.

Information about the 8 November incident came to light via the blog of Joe Weiss who advises utilities on how to protect hardware against attack.

Mr Weiss quoted from a short report by the Illinois Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center which said hackers obtained access using stolen login names and passwords. These were taken from a company which writes control software for industrial systems.

The net address through which the attack was carried out was traced to Russia, according to Mr Weiss. The report said "glitches" in the remote access system for the pump had been noticed for months before the burn out, said Mr Weiss.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iran's nuclear programme has been slowed by a virus targeting industrial control systems

Peter Boogaard, A spokesman for the DHS, said it was gathering facts about the incident.

"At this time there is no credible corroborated data that indicates a risk to critical infrastructure entities or a threat to public safety," he said.
Industrial action

The comments by the DHS prompted a hacker using the handle "pr0f" to claim he had access to the control systems for a second US water utility.

He posted a document to the Pastebin website which purportedly contained links to screenshots of the internal control systems for a waste water treatment plant in South Houston.

The hacker's claims about their ability to penetrate the control systems have yet to be confirmed or denied by South Houston's Water and Sewer Department.

In an interview with the Threat Post website, Pr0f said the hack of the South Houston network barely deserved the name because only a three-character password had been used to protect the system.

The attacks are the latest in a series in which different hackers and groups have targeted so called Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. These specialised computer systems are used to control equipment used to filter water, mix chemicals, distribute power and route trains and trams.

One of the best known SCADA attacks involved the Stuxnet worm which caused problems for Iran.

There were reports that the malware crippled centrifuges used in the nation's uranium enrichment program. Iran denied the claims saying that it had caught the worm before it reached its intended target.

Earlier this year, security researchers who investigated ways to attack SCADA systems were persuaded to cancel a public talk about their findings because of the "serious physical, financial impact these issues could have on a worldwide basis".

Lani Kass, a former adviser to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff on security issues, said America had to start doing more work to understand attacks on critical infrastructure.

"The going in hypothesis is always that it's just an incident or coincidence," she said. "And if every incident is seen in isolation, it's hard - if not impossible - to discern a pattern or connect the dots."

"Failure to connect the dots led us to be surprised on 9/11," she said.

Investing In Water ETFs

Supply and demand forces dictate that the global water sector will witness growth and positive price support in the future, making the PowerShares Water Resources (PHO), the PowerShares Global Water (PIO) and the Guggenheim S&P Global Water Index (CGW) attractive investments. According to the World Resources Institute, consumption of water has been growing more than twice as fast as population growth. Demand for the essential commodity is expected to increase by more than 50% over the next 15 years in developing markets and by more than 15% in developed markets like the US. This demand in developing nations is emerging as incomes are rising and people are moving out of rural areas into more developed parts of their countries. In fact, a report by the United Nations indicates that nearly 50% of the world’s population currently lives in cities, and over the next 35 years, this number is expected to rise to more than two-thirds. Most recently, the world’s population broke the 7 billion mark and it expected to surpass the 9 billion mark within the next 40 years. Much of this growth has been, and will likely continue to be, witnessed in the developing nations of Africa and Asia. On the supply side, water scarcity and water stress has already prevailed in parts of Russia, China, and the US. Furthermore, the expected impact of Mother Nature’s doing -- more severe flooding and droughts -- is expected to curtail the supply of potable water. The world has a large amount of water; however, only 2.5% of it is fresh water, and a mere 33% of this fresh water can be used for agricultural purposes and human consumption. At the end of the day, a supply and demand imbalance in the most important commodity around the world prevails and is likely to continue to do so, setting the stage for an influx in investment into the sector on both the domestic and international stage.

Climate Change Could Increase 'Saltwater Intrusion'

Guest Blog By Andy Reid, Sun Sentinel, September 12, 2011 Summer rains can't wash away a growing underground threat to South Florida's water supply. Saltwater seeping in from the ocean keeps spreading farther west, threatening to foul underground freshwater supplies that provide most of South Florida's drinking water. "Saltwater intrusion" in South Florida has worsened through the decades as providing water and flood control for a growing population siphons away freshwater and allows more saltwater to seep into aquifers and well fields. Ninety percent of South Florida gets its drinking water from underground supplies, most from the Biscayne aquifer. Pumping too much water from underground supplies can allow saltwater to push in from the coast. Droughts can make saltwater intrusion worse as pumping to provide drinking water continues while rains don't come to replenish underground freshwater supplies. Now South Florida officials are projecting that sea-level rise due to climate change could increase the reach of saltwater that can make water from community wells undrinkable. That has city and county utilities along the southeast Florida coast exploring expensive alternatives, with costs passed along to ratepayers, to avoid getting cut off from freshwater. "It is still progressing westward," Hector Castro, Hallandale Beach public works and utilities director, said. "Eventually all coastal communities will deal with this in some way, shape or form." Hallandale Beach, Pompano Beach, Dania Beach, Lantana and Lake Worth are among local cities that in recent years have been most at risk from saltwater intrusion. But the line of saltwater spreading inland comes close to or reaches cities from Jupiter to Florida City, including West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Miami, according to theU.S. Geological Survey. Reducing well-field pumping, moving well fields farther inland and requiring utilities to pursue alternative water supplies have helped hold the line of saltwater intrusion in some areas and even push it back east. "It's a serious threat," said Pete Kwiatkowski, South Florida Water Management District water-shortage incident commander. "That saltwater front is very dynamic (and) it does shift." Six of the eight wells that Hallandale Beach relies on have been closed through the years due to saltwater intrusion. That's because 85 percent of the city is within the area where saltwater has seeped in, Castro said. As a result, the city pays to get half of its water from Broward County's western well fields and is working on a deal for new western wells of its own. Hallandale Beach proposes building six new wells and new water lines in West Park for about $10 million. Operating them over 40 years would cost about $36 million, Castro said. "Any given day, if we were to pull too much water … we could lose another well," Castro said. Instead of building well fields farther inland, some utilities build new water plants capable of tapping into and treating deeper, saltier underground water supplies. Lake Worth recently completed a $24 million reverse osmosis water plant to keep 5 million to 7 million gallons of water a day flowing, without threats from saltwater. Lake Worth also has stricter once-a-week landscape-watering limits intended to cut water use and help avoid saltwater intrusion. Rising sea levels are expected to add to the spread of saltwater intrusion, said Jennifer Jurado, Broward County director of natural resources planning and management. Man-made pollution produces more carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases that capture the sun's heat, leading to climate change. Increased temperatures mean melting ice sheets and swelling oceans, projected to bring rising sea levels. South Florida sea levels rose about 8 inches during the past 100, but are projected to increase between 9 and 27 inches over the next 60 years, according to Jurado. That would lead to more saltwater forcing its way into freshwater supplies, she said. "Potable water supply is obviously a major concern long-term," said Jurado. Building water plants capable of converting ocean water into drinking water is one alternative that so far South Florida utilities have deemed too expensive. Making better use of regional water supplies could help beat back saltwater intrusion, said Ron Nunes, chairman of the Southeast Florida Utility Council, which represents water providers serving nearly 5 million residents. Flood control for cities and farms built on what used to be the Everglades leads to draining nearly two billions of gallons of storm water out to sea each day after a typical South Florida summer rainstorm. More of that storm water should be redirected to beef up groundwater levels depleted by decades of draining and paving land that once held water and naturally replenished the aquifer, Nunes said. "The biggest issue is the water is there and it is all going out to sea," Nunes said. "Why can't it be re-engineered to help keep the saltwater back?"

WTS Commissions .5 MGD RO For Golf Course Irrigation

Burlington, Iowa July 30 Water Treatment Systems, Inc, Boca Raton FL has commissioned a new reverse osmosis water treatment system at Spirit Hollow Golf Club in Burlington IA. The 500,000 GPD RO, manufactured by Water Management Group, Inc. will provide a consistent supply of irrigation quality water for the golf course. The design-build project was a result of successful teamwork performed by the owner, Spirit Hollow Golf Club, Water Treatment Systems, Inc and Water Management Group, Inc.
At times of low rainfall, which is an annual occurrence during the golf season in Iowa, the facilities back up source of water has been a brackish water well. At 2600 ppm TDS this water was harmful to the fairways greens and tees.

The new RO system provides a product water of approximately 100 ppm TDS which will then be stored in a natural pond. The blended pond water should reach approximately 400 ppm TDS before being pumped onto the golf course. “This water quality is considered to be optimal for the health and appearance of fairways, greens and additional landscaping” said Jeff Dunn, WTS, Inc. applications engineer.
A new building was constructed over the winter to house the equipment which consists of the .5 MGD membrane train and pre-filtration system.
Reverse Osmosis systems are increasingly chosen by Golf Course properties to reduce water costs while maintaining consistent irrigation quality water from sources otherwise unsuitable for irrigation or potable water use. The cost of operating an RO water treatment plant is often much less than the cost of municipal water or reclaimed waste-water, and better for the turf.
Water Treatment Systems, Inc. designs reverse osmosis systems for industrial and commercial applications and specializes in brackish and sea water desalination.

Reverse Osmosis Systems Provide Quality, Reduce Water Usage for Golf Course Irrigation

In recent years golf course managers have begun installing Reverse Osmosis water treatment systems to provide good quality water for irrigation and at a much lower cost than that of municipally supplied water. The use of RO for treating water for irrigation is not new. Seaside hotels in areas such as the Caribbean, Mexico, South America and the Mediterranean regions have been using RO for many years to desalinate seawater for potable water and irrigation needs.
But In many parts of the country, and worldwide, golf course managers struggle with the problems of availability, cost or quality of water for irrigation of their golf course. Reverse Osmosis has solved the problem of utilizing brackish ground water and many Golf Clubs have planned to purchase and install their own RO water treatment plants only to run directly into a difficult problem: where to discharge the RO concentrate. This is the water that contains the concentrated minerals removed by the reverse osmosis process. The problem is finding a suitable location to send the RO concentrate water and obtaining the necessary permits. RO concentrate water is considered “industrial waste” by the DER and EPA. Examples of approved discharge resources may be an infiltration trench, deep well, a lined surface water body on the property and discharge to a municipal sewage system of low flow concentrate. If none of these exist then building them may be cost prohibitive or not permitted in the location of the property.
But what if there was no water to dispose of or a very minimal amount that could get permitted? Enter “Zero Liquid Discharge” RO system design. This is a very recent advance in reverse osmosis technology which can be provided in various ways based on site specific conditions.
By utilizing stages membrane trains and, in some cases, evaporators as the final stage in the process, an irrigation water treatment plants can reduce 250,000 gallons per day concentrate discharge from a one million gallon per day systems, to less than 27,000 gallons per day. This is a more manageable quantity and one which has a better chance for approved permitting. This is a very important development for the RO and Golf Course industries.

Newest Golf Course Irrigation RO Near Completion

Water Treatment Systems,Inc, Boca Raton FL has delivered it's newest reverse osmosis water treatment system to Spirit Hollow GC in Burlington IA. The 500,000 GPD RO will provide a consistent supply of irrigation quality water for the golf course.

At times of low rainfall, which is an annual occurrence during the golf season in Iowa, the facilities back up source of water has been a brackish water well. At 2000 ppm TDS this water was detrimental to the fairways greens and tees.

The new RO system will provide a product water of approximately 100 ppm TDS which will then be stored in a natural pond. The blended pond water should reach approximately 400 ppm TDS before being pumped onto the golf course.

A new building was constructed over the winter to house the equipment. The Water Treatment Plant is expected to start-up around May 18th.

Advantages of Reverse Osmosis for Irrigation Systems

For some years now, golf courses across the country have been making use of reverse osmosis systems to irrigate their greens. In a business where access to water for irrigation is vital to survival, many course managers are turning to reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration systems to ensure themselves of a ready supply of good quality irrigation water to keep their courses green. Is a reverse osmosis golf course irrigation system right for your course? In order to answer that question, you need to understand the advantages of reverse osmosis for desalination and water filtration.

A Reverse Osmosis System can Remove up to 99.5% of the Salt From Sea Water or Brackish Water

In coastal areas, where golf courses may be surrounded by salt water and brackish water, reverse osmosis systems can reduce the cost of irrigating the greens and fairways by making irrigation water from formerly unusable water.

A Reverse Osmosis System can Reduce Your Irrigation Costs Substantially

An article in the November 1998 issue of USGA Green Section Record noted that the Everglades Club, located in Palm Beach, Florida, had reduced irrigation costs by 75% by adopting a reverse osmosis filtration system. The course had been using the RO irrigation system for two years at the time of the article. Greens manager Peter Brooks told the magazine that his costs for irrigation from $3.18 per 1,000 gallons of water to $0.45 per 1,000 gallons.

RO Irrigation Systems can Supply Water for Your Course Even During Drought Conditions

In the same article, Rob Kloska, greens superintendent of the Jupiter Island Golf Club in Florida, noted that the city had cut the club’s water supply during drought conditions in previous summers, which is the time when irrigation and sprinklers are the most important for turf and other course plantings. Installing their own RO water treatment center not only cut costs for the golf course, it gave them control over the water supply that they didn’t have when buying water from the municipal water supply.

RO Filter Systems can Make Unusable Water Usable

Reverse osmosis filters will work on any degree of salinity in water, from full-on seawater to brackish groundwater. In addition, RO irrigation systems can filter out other impurities and contaminants that might make available water unusable for irrigation, such as hard water minerals.

An Irrigation Technology Company can Design an RO System That’s Just Right for Your Needs

Water treatment companies will often work with you to design a system that meets your needs precisely. The full process, from concept to operation, often takes less than two years. If you haven’t considered a reverse osmosis system to provide good quality golf course irrigation systems for your club, contact a water treatment company and ask for a consultation to determine if RO filtration might be worth your while.

Seawater Desalination Contributes to a Healthy Local Economy

In parts of the world where clean water supplies are scarce the application of reverse osmosis technology makes use of our infinite ocean resources. Seawater desalination systems are having a dynamic impact on the standard of living in previously under-developed areas by providing clean fresh water for drinking and industrial and commercial use.
The general quality of life is improved and with a healthy population who are able to contribute to the economy rather than being reliant on the state for their most basic needs.
Reverse osmosis systems are a proven stimulant to the growth of tourism. Naturally located by the ocean, resort development can flourish when the water treatment plant can deliver sufficient clean water supplies to sustain all the hotels, apartments, bars and restaurants that make up a successful holiday destination.
Imagine not having access to something as simple as a clean glass of water. RO systems are working to change that one glass at a time.

Desalinated Seawater for Haiti - A Missed Opportunity

Soon after Haiti was struck by an earthquake the world learned of the devastation and enormous extent of this disaster, It wasn’t very long after that that some charitable agencies envisioned plans to provide clean water for the stricken area where there was precious little to be had.
At that time, my company, Water Treatment Systems, Inc had two seawater desalination systems on hold for a customer who would not need them for another three months, time enough for us to build two more if needed. With our customers agreement we made the two SW RO systems available to the marketplace.
We had several serious inquiries from non-profit groups who wished to include them as part of temporary or mobile water treatment plants located on or near the sea to provide water to those that desperately needed it. Unfortunately, the organizations could not obtain financing and none of their plans were realized. Each of the seawater RO systems would have produced 60,000 gallons of potable water per day and would have been a great assistance especially in light of the current events.
An outbreak of cholera was confirmed in Haiti on October 21, 2010. Cholera had not been documented in Haiti for decades so cholera outbreaks were considered unlikely in Haiti immediately following the earthquake in January, 2010. For a cholera outbreak to occur, two conditions have to be met: (1) there must be significant breaches in the water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure used by groups of people, permitting large-scale exposure to food or water contaminated with Vibrio cholera organisms; and (2) cholera must be present in the population. While it is unclear how cholera was re-introduced to Haiti, both of these conditions now exist. (CDC Report)
One groups plans to supply clean water called for an off shore barge to serve as a platform for the desalination systems. Seawater would be drawn directly from the sea and piped a short distance to sanitary storage facilities onshore. Potable water would be distributed from there.
I am certain that such a plant would have supplied much needed drinking water to at least a portion of the population and alleviated some suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake. Sadly, it also would have been a great asset in the fight against cholera if it had come to pass.

19 New Alternative Water Supply Projects In South Florida

In Florida, the South Florida Water Management District, which manages the state's water resources, provides Grants to cities and private entities for development and use of alternative water sources for irrigation or potable water that otherwise might not be usable. The Floridan Aquifer, a highly brackish water supply located beneath most of Florida can now be utilized using Reverse Osmosis.It has just been announced that the SFWMD has approved providing $3.45 million for 19 projects across the region. These projects combined will provide an additional 6.5 million gallons per day of water supply capacity. The projects are intended to help the environment and the economy, said Terrie Bates assistant deputy executive director for regulatory and public affairs at the district. She also said "the investment in alternative water supply projects is an investment in Florida's' future".The money will be spread throughout the district. In Boca Raton, $175,000 will be used for a 16-inch reclaimed water distribution system expansion along Airport Road. Davie, in Broward County, will receive $200,000 to help fund a 6 million gallon per day reverse osmosis water treatment plant. Alternative water projects help to reduce dependence on traditional freshwater resources and diversify South Florida's water supply.