Environmental clean-up costs can be one of the most significant financial exposures arising from a pollution incident.

Specialist Environmental Liability Insurance can provide cover for certain clean-up and remediation expenses.

What costs can be involved? #

Depending on the policy and circumstances, costs can include:

• Environmental consultants.
• Site investigation.
• Soil testing.
• Water testing.
• Emergency response.
• Contaminated soil removal.
• Treatment of groundwater.
• Waste disposal.
• Remediation contractors.
• Site restoration.
• Monitoring.

Can clean-up of my own property be insured? #

Potentially.

Some premises-based Environmental Liability policies provide first-party cover for certain clean-up costs at the insured location.

This should not be assumed under an ordinary Public Liability policy.

What about contamination extending beyond my property? #

Specialist environmental policies can also provide cover for certain liabilities and remediation costs where pollution migrates to:

• Neighbouring properties.
• Groundwater.
• Waterways.
• Other affected land.

Does a regulator need to order the clean-up? #

The policy wording determines the trigger.

Some policies cover specified remediation costs required by environmental authorities, while other circumstances may also be insured.

Should I appoint a clean-up contractor immediately? #

Take reasonable emergency action where necessary to protect people, property or the environment.

However, notify Webber Insurance or the insurer promptly.

Environmental insurers can have specialist incident-response arrangements and may need to approve significant remediation expenditure.