19257_Authority_June_2026

56 The Authority │ June 3. Operator Liability – Operating facilities where PFAS is present in water or residuals creates exposure. Sewer authorities are especially vulnerable since they receive PFAS-laden discharge they can’t control at the point of entry. A pollution policy should cover defense costs and your share of remediation. Make sure all potential locations are scheduled on your policy, including less obvious sites like former biosolids areas, legacy disposal locations, decommissioned wells, and wastewater outfalls. What You Should Do Now 1. Review your current policies for any PFAS-specific exclusions, sublimits, or restrictive endorsements across your General Liability, Umbrella, and Pollution Liability programs. 2. Check your scheduled locations on any pollution policy to ensure all sites with potential PFAS exposure are included. 3. Secure a pollution policy that covers PFAS—and confirm it doesn’t contain a PFAS exclusion. Work with a broker who understands the unique risks facing water and sewer authorities. 4. Know what your policy covers: site-specific cleanup, third-party bodily injury, CERCLA defense and indemnity, and non-owned disposal sites. The Bottom Line PFAS is one of the most significant risk management challenges facing public authorities today. The window for securing meaningful PFAS coverage under pollution policies is narrowing. Authorities that act now will be in a much stronger position than those that wait until they’re already facing a claim. S PFAS article continued from page 33. www.kleinfelder.com Visit our website to learn more or get in touch! Kleinfelder has been connecting great people to the best work since 1961. From environmental remediation and ecological assessment to water infrastructure and geotechnical investigations, Kleinfelder works on projects throughout Pennsylvania that are transforming our communities and gaining national recognition.