The NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Physical and Cyber Safety in Critical Water Infrastructure, held from 8–11 October 2018, was a great success. More than 50 scientists, experts, and technology and service providers from 19 countries came together to increase awareness of the risks that threaten current and future water utilities and services, share experiences from leading utility managers and specialists, and learn how to increase surveillance and preparedness, as well as minimize crisis should all else fail.

The workshop contributed to development of the knowledge base on cyber and other threats to water supply and wastewater management, increasing awareness of risks and opportunities for key stakeholders alike. It established and strengthened the network of experts and decision makers from 19 countries, forging partnerships between NATO member and partner countries. This collaboration resulted in three concepts for joint research projects that will be developed into project applications during 2019–2020. The workshop produced a printed collection of presentations and opened two opportunities for peer-reviewed publications aimed at the relevant government authorities and membership organisations for water utilities, promoting and strengthening relevant policies.

This book presents 12 papers selected from those delivered at the NATO ARW workshop.

We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Secretariat of the Emerging security challenges division (ESC) of the NATO Science for Peace & Security Programme (SPS), which provided finance for the workshop. We would also like to express our gratitude to the authors for developing valuable manuscripts which provide an insight into the subject, and the participants for their active role during the workshop. We hope that both the workshop and this collection of papers will increase awareness of the urgent need to focus on physical and cyber safety in one of the most critical infrastructures in our society – the water supply and water management services.

Prof. Harsha Ratnaweera and Prof. Oleksandr Pivovarov

Co-directors of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Physical and Cyber Safety in Critical Water Infrastructure, NATO ref G5495

July 2019