The $7.5 million in new funds from the Cybersecurity for Rural Water Systems Act of 2023 is not just a drop in the bucket for crucially important rural water systems.
A recent bill that proposes $7.5 million in annual cybersecurity funding for the next five years for US rural water systems may have a bigger impact for covered entities than the dollar amount alone would suggest. It would be a much-needed infusion of cash for a critical infrastructure sector that plays a big role in public safety despite its smaller customer base.
The funding adds to $25 million available annually as technical assistance for rural water systems and small water utilities under a US Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiative called the Circuit Rider Program. But this bill targets a narrowly focused set of small organizations that currently have little to non-existent cybersecurity capabilities.