The news that a recent sewage overflow was caused by an unknown individual or group vandalizing the Lanett Waste Water Treatment Plant is unnerving, mainly because of how bad it could have been.

According to a city press release, an unknown individual or group entered the plant sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday, July 29 and 7 a.m. Monday, July 30. An unspecified amount of damage was done to the facility and equipment, causing a backup in four manholes near Tanyard Creek.

The big concern is that whoever did this could have caused so much more damage.

Ever since Sept. 11, 2001, there have been concerns that our utility facilities are not secure and could be targeted by those wishing to cause chaos. The fact that something like that has happened in such a small place as Lanett is unnerving.

Hopefully local law enforcement will be capable of discovering the person or people responsible and the city will make an effort to prevent this from happening again.