OLDSMAR, FLA -- A computer hacker gained access to the water system of a city in Florida and tried to pump in a "dangerous" amount of sodium hydroxide (lye) to the water supply, according to the New York Times.
On Friday, a computer controlling the water treatment system was remotely accessed, and the hacker briefly increased the amount of sodium hydroxide in Oldsmar's water treatment system. Thankfully, a treatment plant worker spotted the action and was able to correct the chemical levels.
The plant operator saw an attempt to access the system in the morning but assumed it was his supervisor, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Early that afternoon, another remote attempt was made, this time allowing the hacker access to the treatment software, where they were able to increase the sodium hydroxide levels from 100 parts per million to 11,100 ppm.
The operator, who watched the chemical levels change in real-time, was immediately able to reduce the level to normal.
City officials, including Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said that although the event was concerning, “at no time was there a significant adverse effect on the water being treated. Importantly, the public was never in danger."
In a tweet, Senator Marco Rubio, Republican of Florida, said the attempt to poison the water supply should be treated as a “matter of national security.”
No arrests have yet been made and it is not known if the hack was done from within the US or elsewhere. The utility’s remote access program to the water system has been temporarily disabled.
