It turns out that the water system was hacked and there was a risk of mass poisoning of citizens

Pinellas County, Florida officials report that 'someone remotely accessed the computer system that controls the water treatment system in Oldsmer and changed the amount of sodium hydroxide in clean water to about 100 times the standard.' Did. Sodium hydroxide was used to regulate the pH of clean water, but a concentration of about 100 times the standard value could be fatal if drunk.

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The incident occurred around 13:30 on February 5, 2021. An operator of a water treatment system in the city of Oldsmer noticed that the mouse pointer was being moved by remote control. Recently, due to the epidemic of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), it has become common for senior managers to access remotely, but on this day's remote access, 'Sodium hydroxide concentration in clean water It is said that an unusual operation of 'increasing from 100 ppm to 11,100 ppm' was performed.

Sodium hydroxide is a basic chemical used as a strong base, and is sometimes used as a raw material for soap, as a substitute for polishing bread dough, and as a substitute for Kansui , which gives the body of ramen. It is designated as a ' deleterious substance ' by the Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law . The city of Oldsmer's water treatment system used sodium hydroxide as a neutralizing agent for pH stabilization, but its concentration was negligible.

After confirming that someone who manipulated the sodium hydroxide concentration had logged off the system, the operator immediately restored the concentration and notified the authorities. At the time of the press, the local Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, as well as the FBI and Secret Service, are under investigation.

At a press conference held on February 8, Mayor Eric Seidel of Allsmer said that the water treatment facility in question was equipped with a safety system for one case like this, so the operator discovered the incident. He answered that there would have been no problem if he did not. 'There were some clues left,' said Bob Gualtieri of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, while 'I have no idea why the city of Allsmer's water treatment system was targeted.' Answered. Encouraged other municipal authorities to protect the infrastructure.

Treatment Plant Intrusion Press Conference-YouTube


Senator Marco Rubio commented on the matter, 'it should be treated as a national security issue.' 'Both state and federal authorities will be charged with felony,' said Guartieri.