Federal alerts follow Minnesota incident and multi‑state intrusion pattern
By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
Federal cybersecurity alerts issued after a coordinated attack on more than 30 Minnesota water systems come amid a broader pattern of similar intrusions reported in several states over the past two years, prompting renewed attention to the operational‑technology vulnerabilities present in water facilities across Brunswick, Columbus, and Horry counties.
Local water‑system infrastructure relies on the same types of programmable logic controllers targeted in recent incidents.
These devices automate pumps, towers, and treatment processes and are commonly paired with remote‑access controls features that federal investigators say have been exploited when left exposed to the public internet or configured with default credentials.
Brunswick County Public Utilities in Bolivia oversees countywide treatment operations and remote‑access systems. Additional infrastructure along the Southport Supply Road corridor supports distribution for the southern end of the county.
In Columbus County, the public utilities office in Whiteville manages system monitoring and operational controls.
Horry County’s Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority and the Bucksport Water System in Conway operate similar equipment, including remotely controlled pump stations and tower systems.
Federal officials emphasize that no water‑quality impacts or safety threats have been reported in the recent attacks, keeping public health protected. However, operational disruptions remain a concern; intrusions in other states have forced utilities into temporary manual operation, resulting in pressure fluctuations, brief service interruptions, and precautionary boil‑water notices rather than widespread or catastrophic failures.
CISA and the EPA are urging all utilities to remove PLCs and HMIs from public internet exposure, change default passwords, review remote‑access settings, and back up operational‑technology configurations. Local systems are expected to follow these directives as part of routine compliance.
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