Columbus Water Works detected and contained a cyberattack July 27 that affected portions of its automated monitoring systems but did not interrupt water service or affect drinking water quality in Columbus, Georgia, officials said.
Operators switched immediately to manual controls and never lost control of the system, WRBL reported. The utility provides water and wastewater services in Columbus and at nearby Fort Benning, an Army post.
Chance Corbett, Columbus’ emergency management and homeland security director, told the station the rapid switch prevented any impact on the public. Jeremy Cummings, the utility’s president and CEO, said the water remained safe.
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The FBI, Georgia emergency management officials and other federal partners are investigating how access was gained and who was responsible, the station reported. The utility has not disclosed how the system was accessed or identified the specific equipment affected.
The incident came as federal agencies warned of a series of attacks in multiple states targeting internet-connected industrial controllers at water and wastewater utilities. The FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency said utilities in at least seven states had reported incidents since July 27, but authorities have not publicly linked Columbus to those incidents.
The investigation remains ongoing. No threat actor has been identified, and officials have not confirmed data theft or a ransom demand.
