--- title: "Episode 777: water contamination" url: "https://bepreparedsolutions.co/pbn/777-water-contamination" description: "Show notes with the sources behind them, plus related episodes for water contamination." source: "BePrepared Solutions" --- [![Prepper Broadcasting Network logo](https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/images.spreaker.com/original/cbb6e73246f575743b9df1c4f77fec20.jpg)![BePreparedSolutions.co logo](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/_next/image?url=%2Flogo.png&w=48&q=75)BePreparedSolutions.co](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/) Episode 777 # water contamination Sources verified August 28, 2026 **For PBN listeners:** you already prep. See what BePrepared adds for your address and your household. [Start my free 7-day trial, no credit card](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/trial?source=pbn&returnTo=%2Fpbn%2F777-water-contamination)[Ready to subscribe? Code PBN20 takes 20% off on eligible plans.](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/partner/pbn?c=pbn_show_notes_ribbon) The recording of this episode is not posted yet. These notes are complete in the meantime — everything below is what was covered. ## The short version Water utilities in at least twelve states reported cyber incidents to the FBI, with some attacks degrading operations. Contamination of municipal water requires three conditions: low or negative pressure in the pipes, a physical gap such as a leak, and contaminants outside the system. Power outages stop pumps, which drops pressure and can allow contaminants to enter from surrounding soil and groundwater. The EPA estimates approximately one deliberate contamination attack nationally every one to ten years. Stored water in household containers and tanks can buffer a household during a supply interruption. ([NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/hackers-targeted-municipal-water-systems-7-states-week-fbi-says-rcna590210 "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated"), [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/water-supply-warnings.html "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · single source")\*, [PMC article on public health impacts of deteriorating distribution systems](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7147732/ "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated"), [EPA, Power Resilience: Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-03/documents/160212-powerresilienceguide508.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated"), [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency](https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/baseline_information_malevolent_acts_508_050724.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated"), [Resilience Analytics for Interdependent Power and Water Distribution Systems](https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1962538 "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · single source")\*) ## Why this matters right now Water and wastewater utilities in at least seven states reported cyber incidents to the FBI and EPA, with some malicious activity degrading water operations. The tally of states reporting possible attacks rose to at least twelve. ([NBC News](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/hackers-targeted-municipal-water-systems-7-states-week-fbi-says-rcna590210 "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated"), [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/water-supply-warnings.html "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · single source")\*) ## Going deeper The EPA defines contamination of finished water as deliberate introduction of a contaminant into finished water storage or the distribution system with intent to poison consumers or contaminate infrastructure. The agency's conservative estimate is approximately one attack among all public water systems nationally every one to ten years. ([U.S. Environmental Protection Agency](https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/baseline_information_malevolent_acts_508_050724.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) Contaminant intrusion into a drinking water distribution system requires three conditions: low or negative pressure, physical gaps such as leaks or breaks, and contaminants outside the system. All three must be present. ([PMC article on public health impacts of deteriorating distribution systems](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7147732/ "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) Power outages disrupt drinking water utilities by stopping pumps. This leads to water shortages and pressure loss in the distribution system. Pressure loss allows contaminants to enter the system from surrounding soil and groundwater. Inoperable pumps make firefighting difficult and can cause local health care facilities and restaurants to close. ([EPA, Power Resilience: Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-03/documents/160212-powerresilienceguide508.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) ## How this has played out before A 2022 study modeled how power outages propagate to water shortages by interrupting pumping stations and reducing downstream water pressure. The study found that water shortage from a power outage could be temporarily buffered by stored water in tanks. ([Resilience Analytics for Interdependent Power and Water Distribution Systems](https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1962538 "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) ## What to do about it - Fill two clean 2-litre bottles with tap water, cap them, and write today's date on each with a marker. ([EPA, Power Resilience: Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-03/documents/160212-powerresilienceguide508.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) - Write down your water utility's emergency phone number and tape it inside a kitchen cabinet. ([EPA, Power Resilience: Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-03/documents/160212-powerresilienceguide508.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) - Walk the outside of your house and check for dripping outdoor faucets or wet spots in the yard that might indicate a leak. ([PMC article on public health impacts of deteriorating distribution systems](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7147732/ "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) - Find your home's main water shutoff valve and confirm you can turn it by hand. ([EPA, Power Resilience: Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-03/documents/160212-powerresilienceguide508.pdf "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · single source")\*, [PMC article on public health impacts of deteriorating distribution systems](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7147732/ "Retrieved 8/13/2026 · independently corroborated")) ## Sources and further reading [Hackers targeted municipal water systems in 7 states this week, FBI says](https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/hackers-targeted-municipal-water-systems-7-states-week-fbi-says-rcna590210) — NBC News, retrieved 2026-08-13 [Water Supply Warnings](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/water-supply-warnings.html) — The New York Times, retrieved 2026-08-13 [Baseline Information on Malevolent Acts for Community Water Systems](https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-05/baseline_information_malevolent_acts_508_050724.pdf) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, retrieved 2026-08-13 [Public Health Impacts of Deteriorating Distribution Systems](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7147732/) — PMC, retrieved 2026-08-13 [Power Resilience: Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-03/documents/160212-powerresilienceguide508.pdf) — EPA, retrieved 2026-08-13 [Resilience Analytics for Interdependent Power and Water Distribution Systems](https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1962538) — OSTI, retrieved 2026-08-13 [Print these steps as a one-page field card](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/pbn/777-water-contamination/card) ## From the archive Earlier episodes that covered this ground. - The Things You Have To Do, IC the things you have · December 2021 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-things-you-have-to-do-ic--47950568) Secure an independent water source - DAC - Got Water? dac · July 2024 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dac-got-water--60620101) Distinguish between stored water and a water source - Power Out with A Family Affair on PBN power out with a · July 2018 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/power-out-with-a-family-affair-on-pbn--16708018) Prioritize water storage immediately during a power outage - Getting Caught Off-Grid with Reality Check on PBN getting caught off · June 2018 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/getting-caught-off-grid-with-reality-check-on-pbn--16708058) Store water and have a plan for water access - DAC: Water PREP dac · August 2021 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dac-water-prep--46038721) Supplement stored water with rainwater harvesting - Throwback Thursday: Getting Caught Off Grid with Reality Check throwback thursday · March 2026 [Play from 50:20](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/throwback-thursday-getting-caught-off-grid-with-reality-check--70477388#t=3020) Water storage is critical, even for short-term outages - How Long Will Utilities Last how long will utilities · October 2019 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-long-will-utilities-last--19427988) Water towers provide reserve capacity, not primary supply - Sanitation Part 3. The Latrine with Reality Check on PBN sanitation the · October 2018 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/sanitation-part-3-the-latrine-with-reality-check-on-pbn--16707944) Prepare for sewage system failures in emergencies - Rain And Water With A Family Affair rain and water with · May 2019 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/rain-and-water-with-a-family-affair--17837077) Consider alternative water sources and cooling methods - Aquaponics Part 2 - Essential Components and Considerations - The Next Generation Show aquaponics · August 2019 [Listen](https://www.spreaker.com/episode/aquaponics-part-2-essential-components-and-considerations-the-next-generation-show--18811767) Power outages pose a significant threat to aquaponics Drawn from 649 of the network’s 7,665 episodes — the ones transcribed and indexed so far. ## Ask about this Answered from ten years of the network’s own episodes, with the ones it drew on listed. If the shows haven’t covered it, it will say so. [All episode notes](https://bepreparedsolutions.co/pbn) --- _Guidance here is general and cannot account for your circumstances. In an active emergency, official instructions from local authorities take precedence over anything published by BePrepared Solutions._