SCADA & Automation Resources

  1. The Case For Moving From Analog To Digital Controls 9/11/2026

    Smart pumps and digital communication protocols can help water utilities transition from legacy analog controls to more precise, scalable automation while preserving operational knowledge and capital investments.

  2. From Warning To Reality: Lessons From The Latest OT Attacks On Water Utilities 8/27/2026

    On July 10, I published an article warning that water and wastewater utilities had become prime targets for state-sponsored cyber actors, describing how attackers exploit internet-exposed PLCs, how the IT/OT divide leaves organizations vulnerable, and why the sector needed to act before an incident forced their hand. Today, that scenario is no longer hypothetical.

  3. Who Will Replace Your Best Operator? 8/8/2026
    Utilities can refill a vacancy. They cannot rehire the judgment that kept a system stable at 2 a.m. The work now is to preserve that judgment without taking the operator out of command.
  4. Building The Augmented Operator: A Manager's Guide To Training For AI-Powered Utility 7/15/2026
    As water and wastewater utilities expand SCADA, advanced analytics, and AI, managers must prepare operators to turn those signals into reliable operational decisions. The goal is not to replace certified professionals but to build an augmented workforce that can supervise automation, question model outputs, and protect treatment performance under changing plant conditions.
  5. SWAN Corner: From Compliance To Resilience — Practical Lessons In OT Recovery For Water Utilities 7/10/2026
    Water and wastewater utilities have become attractive targets for cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors. CISA has repeatedly warned that drinking water and wastewater systems are vulnerable because they often lack the resources and technical capacity to adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices. The question is no longer whether your utility will face a cyber incident, but when — and whether you will be ready.
  6. From Study To Startup: Reliability Lessons From A CVWRF Headworks Project 7/8/2026
    Wastewater utilities invest significant time and resources in capital projects intended to improve reliability, capacity, safety, and long-term performance. The design may be sound, the equipment may be new, and the project may appear ready for service. Yet the true test often comes during startup.
  7. The Easiest Way To Attack U.S. Water Systems Isn't What You Think 6/17/2026

    The latest warnings from U.S. intelligence agencies about escalating cyber activity from foreign-state-linked actors have become more pronounced and urgent in recent months. These attacks increasingly focused around local communities and the daily operational systems underpinning public health and safety, specifically regional critical infrastructure.

  8. AMI Adoption In Water Is Still Structurally Constrained 6/12/2026
    Over the last two decades, utilities have increasingly viewed the transition from automated meter reading (AMR) to advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) as the next step in modernizing their operations. The benefits of moving toward a truly digital ecosystem are well-established, yet AMI continues to face a slow, asymmetric rollout in the water industry.
  9. Why The Water Sector's AI Ambitions Depend On Better Connectivity 6/4/2026
    For AI to deliver real operational value, it needs a constant flow of reliable operational data. AI systems are relentlessly data-hungry, and the more data, the better. Yet, accessing this data remains a major challenge in the utilities sector, with remote reservoirs, wastewater treatment works, and sprawling infrastructure often located a long way from traditional cellular networks.
  10. Artificial Intelligence May Be Fueling The Future, But Water Will Sustain It 6/3/2026
    AI is reshaping industries at extraordinary speed, from healthcare and finance to manufacturing, logistics, and retail. As AI adoption accelerates, data centers have become the physical backbone of the digital world. Yet behind every compute cycle lies a critical resource that rarely receives the same level of attention: water.