- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 1 month ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Water security & preparedness – threats, wells, and rain catchment systems
Fellow RRVARC members,
Water is one of those critical resources we don’t think about much until it’s threatened or unavailable. Recent discussions around shortages and infrastructure vulnerabilities (especially cyber) make it worth looking at both the threat side and practical options for rural places across our Red River Valley area of operations in Lamar County, northeast Texas, and southeast Oklahoma.
This post builds on the conversation we had a few weeks ago about the WIRED war-game article on a large-scale Chinese (Volt Typhoon-style) cyberattack against U.S. water utilities. If you haven’t read that thread yet, you can find it here: What Happens if China Hacks the US Water Supply? I Went to a Secret War Game…. The recent real-world incidents described below show that the kinds of control-system attacks discussed in that earlier thread are already happening at smaller scale.
Two foundational links:
- FBI archives testimony from 10 Oct 2001 (Ronald L. Dick, then Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division / NIPC): Terrorism: Are America’s Water Resources and Environment at Risk?
Key takeaway that still holds: large-scale chemical or biological contamination of major systems is possible but not highly probable due to dilution, treatment processes, and the quantities required. Smaller systems, storage towers, and especially cyber/SCADA or industrial control system (ICS) attacks are more realistic concerns. The testimony stresses perimeter security, monitoring, emergency response plans, and information sharing.
- Search results on water shortages as a potential terrorism or leverage threat (includes related analysis): water shortages terrorism threat john fund
Recent domestic cyber/SCADA examples
The cyber side is no longer theoretical. In late July 2026 (just a couple of weeks ago), a coordinated cyberattack hit more than 30 Minnesota municipal water and wastewater systems. Attackers targeted operational technology / automated controls (including internet-exposed PLCs), temporarily knocking at least one well and treatment plant offline and forcing other systems into manual operation. Water quality was not compromised, but the incidents disrupted automated controls and communications. See coverage from MPR News and WIRED.
Reporting and a WaterISAC memo have linked the activity to patterns associated with Iran-affiliated actors, and the FBI has noted related incidents reported in at least seven states (with broader activity involving many more municipalities).
These events underline why local self-reliance matters for EmComm, rural properties, and club operations across our Red River Valley footprint — and why the practical steps discussed in the earlier war-game thread remain relevant.
Super-expensive water well option
A complete residential well in northeast Texas / southeast Oklahoma (drilling, casing, pump, pressure tank, electrical, testing, permits) commonly runs $8,000–$25,000+ in 2026 and can climb higher with deeper holes, difficult geology, or longer utility runs. Ongoing costs include electricity for the pump, maintenance, and the risk of reduced production in drought or water-quality changes. You control the resource, but you remain tied to the aquifer, power, and local groundwater district rules. Reliable when it works; a significant capital outlay and single point of failure when it doesn’t.
Rain catchment systems (example: Texas Metal Tanks)
Rain harvesting sits at the other end of the spectrum. Texas Metal Tanks (also at texasmetaltanks.com) builds galvanized and stainless steel tanks from roughly 90 gallons up to 4,400+ gallons (custom available). They handle Texas heat, can be configured for potable use with proper lining and filtration, and suit both irrigation and household backup.
Collection math that applies well across the Lamar County / Red River Valley area: 1 inch of rain on 1,000 sq ft of roof yields about 600 gallons. With typical annual rainfall in the 40–50 inch range across much of northeast Texas and southeast Oklahoma, a modest house or shop roof can produce tens of thousands of gallons per year if captured. Common sizing guidance is to plan tank capacity for a 2–3 inch rain event to reduce frequent overflow.
Cost comparison (order-of-magnitude):
- Basic non-potable / irrigation system (hundreds to a couple thousand gallons + first-flush + simple plumbing): often a few thousand dollars.
- Larger storage (2,500+ gallons) with pump and basic filtration: typically in the $3,500–$12,500 tank range plus installation.
- Full potable whole-house systems with treatment (UV, filters, pressure, etc.) can reach or exceed well costs depending on storage volume and how much of the house you supply.
Pros of rain catchment vs. well
- Lower entry cost for meaningful storage.
- Soft, relatively clean starting water (still needs treatment for drinking).
- Greater independence from aquifer levels and (to a degree) from utility power with gravity or small solar/pump setups.
- Scalable — start with one tank off a garage or shop and expand.
- Texas law protects the right to harvest (HOAs cannot outright ban it).
Cons
- Dependent on rainfall; prolonged dry spells require large storage or a secondary source.
- Needs roof area, gutters, first-flush diverters, and overflow management.
- Potable use requires ongoing filter/UV maintenance.
- Takes physical space.
Many of us already run generators, solar, or backup power for stations and EmComm. Adding even modest rain storage (or a hybrid well + catchment setup) adds another layer of resilience for the house, shop, or storm shelter. It is also potentially useful for demonstration on Field Day or temporary deployments where municipal water is unavailable. This is consistent with the lower-friction, “start with what you can actually use and rotate” approach discussed in the earlier thread.
Is anyone already running rain catchment or a hybrid system in the Lamar / Red River Valley area? Does anyone have experiences with Texas Metal Tanks or similar (poly, concrete cisterns, etc.)? What tank sizes and treatment setups have worked (or not) with our rainfall patterns? Cost and gotchas welcome.
73
Phillip Beall (W5EBC)
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.