\"Water systems, like other public utility systems, are part of the nation\'s critical infrastructure and can be vulnerable targets when someone desires to affect public safety adversely. In California, where epic Sierra Nevada snowpack and \"the big melt\" have substantially increased the stakes for reservoir managers, officials say they\'re taking steps to protect the state\'s water systems from hackers, terrorist attacks, and natural disasters, such as the flooding that temporarily severed the Los Angeles Aqueduct — the city\'s water lifeline that connects to the Owens Valley. But experts say the challenges are numerous. Many of the systems in California and nationwide are still operating with outdated software, poor passwords, aging infrastructure, and other weaknesses that could leave them at risk. We will discuss its impact on the nation\'s critical infrastructure and why risks still occur despite government guidance.