American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States, disclosed on Monday that it had fallen victim to a cyberattack. The New Jersey-based company, serving over 14 million people across 14 states and 18 military installations, detected unauthorized activity on Thursday, prompting immediate protective measures.
The firm assured customers that its facilities and operations remained unaffected by the cyberattack. American Water swiftly responded by shutting down specific systems and initiating a thorough investigation into the incident. Dedicated staff members are diligently working to ascertain the nature and extent of the breach, operating tirelessly around the clock.
Law enforcement has been notified, and American Water is actively collaborating with authorities to address the situation. In light of the disruption caused by the cyberattack, the company has temporarily suspended billing to customers. American Water has also pledged that customers will not incur late charges during this period of system unavailability.
With a vast operational reach, American Water manages more than 500 water and wastewater systems across approximately 1,700 communities. Its services span a wide geographic footprint, encompassing states such as California, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.