“WSSC Water continues to produce and deliver safe, clean water to 1.8 million customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties and at no time was the quality or reliability of our drinking water in jeopardy,” WSSC Water Police and Homeland Security Director David McDonough said in a statement.
WSSC said systems that operate its filtration and wastewater treatment plants are, by design, standalone networks and not connected to the internet. According to a statement on its website, WSSC Water also restored files from backups, and there was no significant impact on business operations.
McDonough added that such attacks have become more common, especially in recent weeks, and WSSC Water has prepared for this type of event. With an investigation underway, WSSC Water has notified the FBI, Maryland Attorney General, and state and local homeland security officials and will cooperate with any investigation.