Cyberattacks draw attention to municipal water systems

Recent national news draws attention to cyberattacks against municipal water systems

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) is reaffirming its commitment to protecting the technology and critical infrastructure that supports safe, reliable water, wastewater, and solid waste services in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

Recent cybersecurity incidents affecting several municipal water and wastewater utilities in another state serve as an important reminder that critical infrastructure organizations must remain vigilant. RWSA has not been impacted by these events, and there has been no disruption to operations, drinking water quality, wastewater treatment, or solid waste services.

RWSA maintains a comprehensive cybersecurity program that includes continuous monitoring, employee awareness and training, incident response planning, and ongoing assessments of both enterprise technology and operational systems. The Authority also follows guidance from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and works closely with regional utility partners, government agencies, and trusted technology providers to monitor emerging threats, share information, and strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure.

"Cybersecurity is not a one-time effort, it is an ongoing commitment," said Brian Ayala, Director of Information & Operational Technology. "Events like these remind us to remain vigilant. We continually evaluate our systems, strengthen our defenses, and work to ensure the technology supporting our critical infrastructure remains secure and resilient."

RWSA will continue to proactively monitor the cybersecurity landscape to safeguard our community's water, wastewater, and solid waste systems.

The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority & Solid Waste Authority’s mission is to serve the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA communities by providing high-quality water and wastewater treatment, refuse, and recycling services in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.

RWSA provides wholesale water and sewer services to the Charlottesville Department of Utilities and Albemarle County Service Authority.

RWSA manages five reservoirs, nine dams, six drinking water treatment plants, five finished water pumping stations, eleven water storage tanks, four wastewater treatment plants, and nine wastewater pumping stations.

In 2025, RWSA processed an average of 10.25 million gallons of drinking water and 9.47 million gallons of wastewater each day.