By TERESA LACY
Staff Writer
On February 5th Bruce T. Haddock Water Treatment Plant in Oldsmar was hacked. The levels of sodium hydroxide were dangerously raised and almost affected the public.
Oldsmar was lucky enough to have one of the plant managers notice the hack as it unfolded.They were able to return the system back to normal before any major damage was done. The public was hardly in danger because it would have taken 24 to 36 hours for the tainted water to hit the system.
There is no lead on who was behind the hack, FBI and other law enforcemnets don’t know if the suspects were foriegn or domestic. There is fear that they will strike again and the outcome will be far worse.
The hacker increased the sodium hydroxide content levels by 100 parts per million to 11,100 ppm. Swallowing NaOH can cause damage to the mouth, throat and stomach and induce vomiting and nausea.
The Oldsmar plant provides water to businesses and about 15,000 residents.
The access to the water system has been temporarily disabled.