EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) – Local utility officials are reassuring residents that area drinking water remains safe and protected following a wave of cyberattacks that targeted more than 30 municipal water facilities in neighboring Minnesota.
The Minnesota breaches disrupted operations and triggered boil water advisories in several communities, prompting federal and state authorities to step up vigilance across the region.
The FBI is actively investigating the attacks, with intelligence reports pointing to a possible link to hackers in Iran. President Donald Trump downplayed foreign involvement, pointing instead to local leadership.
“I would blame it on Minnesota and the governor, the corrupt governor of Minnesota,” Trump said. “They like to say, oh, it’s Iran. Iran should be so lucky. Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota.”
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issued a security warning on July 27, notifying local water managers of the active threat.
The advisory came after the state’s intelligence division identified three specific types of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs)—industrial computers used to monitor and control automated water equipment—that are highly vulnerable to malicious activity.
“It’s a wake-up call to all critical infrastructure in all states,” said Bryce Austin, a cybersecurity expert. “We need to be prepared for cyber attacks. It’s not a question of if; it’s a question of when.”
Wisconsin was listed among seven states identified as vulnerable in recent federal threat reports, but Chippewa Falls utility manager Brandon Cesafsky says they are well-prepared to prevent similar incidents.
Chippewa Falls officials confirmed to WEAU that their municipal utility does not use any of the vulnerable PLC brands highlighted in the state’s security advisory.
Meanwhile, Chippewa Falls and Chippewa County leaders met with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency this week to receive briefings on the Minnesota hacks and review defensive strategies.
City of Eau Claire Information Technology Director Bob Nelson said in a statement to WEAU, “At this time, there is no indication that our utility has been affected. We remain committed to providing safe, reliable water service to our community and will continue to evaluate the situation and respond as appropriate.”
Both Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls utility officials confirmed they are actively monitoring their systems for potential weaknesses and are confident that local municipal water supplies remain fully secure.
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