Water and Wastewater Utilities
We leverage historical General Liability Policies to fund environmental remediation and contamination cleanup for public and private water and wastewater utilities.
Water & Wastewater Utilities and the Need for Insurance Archaeology Services
Water and wastewater utilities have operated for decades as essential public and private infrastructure systems. Many treatment plants, lagoons, pump stations, and maintenance facilities were built before modern environmental regulations were in place. At the time, operational practices were consistent with accepted standards and regulatory expectations.
One of the most common sources of environmental liability involves sludge and biosolids management. Historically, residuals were stored in unlined lagoons, applied to land, or disposed of without the engineered controls required today. Over time, contaminants such as heavy metals and industrial compounds have migrated into soil and groundwater. Increased scrutiny surrounding PFAS in biosolids has further intensified investigation and remediation requirements tied to historical disposal practices.
Chemical and fuel storage also present frequent exposure areas. Treatment facilities stored bulk chemicals and diesel fuel for generators and pump stations, often before modern containment and leak detection standards existed. Releases from older tanks and transfer systems are now being discovered during upgrades, environmental assessments, and redevelopment.
Utilities may also face liability related to industrial contaminants, such as heavy metals like chromium, lead, and solvents like TCE and PCE, received through their systems, including emerging chemicals such as PFAS, as well as legacy impacts from maintenance operations and historical disposal areas.
“Historical insurance policies issued before modern pollution exclusions can serve as critical financial resources for utilities facing costly environmental remediation.”
Before the mid-1980s, utilities routinely purchased General Liability Policies to protect against operational risks. Many of these policies were issued before effective pollution exclusions became standard. When properly identified and evaluated, these historical policies may help fund environmental remediation and alleviate the financial pressure associated with cleanup obligations.
How We Can Help
Water and wastewater utilities facing environmental remediation often encounter significant financial pressure, whether from regulatory enforcement, capital improvement demands, or public scrutiny. Our role is to identify and activate historical insurance assets that may help fund cleanup obligations.
Find Your Policy1.
We locate and analyze historical General Liability Policies issued before effective pollution exclusions that may provide coverage for sludge disposal, chemical releases, fuel storage impacts, and PFAS-related liabilities.
2.
We conduct a detailed site history investigation of treatment plants, lagoons, maintenance facilities, and disposal areas to identify historical operations that may trigger insurance coverage.
3.
We align environmental findings and regulatory requirements with available insurance policies to develop a clear coverage strategy.
4.
We work alongside your legal and environmental teams to pursue and obtain insurance funding for remediation.
5.
We provide ongoing claims management and accounting support to ensure that cleanup costs are properly submitted, tracked, and funded without interruption.
Case Studies
