Welcome to the latest issue of The Districts, where we chronicle the people, issues and activities impacting special districts across the U.S. News Staff / March 26, 2021
Our first Special Districts virtual event of 2021 focused on issues facing special district leaders as the nation recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and charts a new course for the future. Our seven-member panel of special district officials and industry experts broke down key trends around disaster planning, leadership and strategy, technology modernization, and project funding. Here are some highlights from this important conversation:
Districts must plan for more complex disaster scenarios: When intense winter weather crippled power and water service in Texas last month, special district leaders in the state faced multidimensional business continuity challenges. For example, call center agents for the San Antonio Water System were working remotely due to COVID when the storm knocked ou
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Florida Hack Exposes Danger to Water Systems
A city worker washes down a street after repairs to a water line in Sacramento, California. Cybersecurity experts say water systems need to be vigilant to protect against hackers.
Rich Pedroncelli
A renegade mouse cursor signaled the danger at the water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Florida.
On Feb. 5, a plant operator for the city of about 15,000 on Florida’s west coast saw his cursor being moved around on his computer screen, opening various software functions that control the water being treated. The intruder boosted the level of sodium hydroxide or lye in the water supply to 100 times higher than normal.