Marsh launches insurance cover for water utilities

MUMBAI: As utilities companies move to strengthen their resilience to risks as a result of tightening regulation and the heightened threat of terrorism, Marsh Inc. has launched a specialist contamination insurance product for water utility firms globally.

Available exclusively through Marsh, the product is the first of its kind to offer coverage for drinking water contamination, including losses associated with a terrorist attack, extortion costs and goodwill payments to customers.

The water utilities contamination insurance product can provide cover of up to £10 million for accidental contamination, malicious contamination or extortion relating to the water supply. This includes payments to domestic and business customers affected by the contamination and those suffering from injury or illness caused by consuming the contaminated water.

Commenting on the launch of the new product, Mr. Sanjay Kedia, Country Head & CEO of Marsh India, said: “Water contamination incidents can have serious regulatory, financial and reputational implications for a water utility. The costs associated with clean-up, providing bottled water, customer communications and subsequent compensation can be substantial.”

“Traditional property and liability policies often provide limited protection against serious contamination incidents. There is a great deal of interest already in this product from water utilities in the UK, USA, Australia and the Far East.”

“Marsh India plans to work with insurers to structure and launch the product, in line with Indian market and regulatory requirements” he said.