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Three water companies are facing a combined fine of £168m after a series of failings, including over sewage treatment.
The proposals by regulator Ofwat include a penalty of £104m for Thames Water.
Yorkshire Water faces a £47m fine, while Northumbrian Water will have to pay £17m.
It comes after an Ofwat investigation found the firms had “routinely released sewage into our rivers and seas, rather than ensuring that this only happens in exceptional circumstances as the law intends”.
The regulator said it would consult on the level of the fines before the companies are ordered to pay up and could potentially reach a settlement with them instead.
Ofwat chief executive David Black said: “Ofwat has uncovered a catalogue of failure by Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water in how they ran their sewage works and this resulted in excessive spills from storm overflows.
“The level of penalties we intend to impose signals both the severity of the failings and our determination to take action to ensure water companies do more to deliver cleaner rivers and seas.”
He added: “These companies need to move at pace to put things right and meet their obligations to protect customers and the environment.”
The regulator has the power to fine firms up to 10% of their turnover. The proposed penalties are the equivalent of 9% of Thames Water’s turnover, 7% of Yorkshire Water’s and 5% of Northumbrian Water’s.
There has been increasing concern over pollution of the UK’s rivers and coastlines in recent years.
Analysis of Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs data suggested sewage was…
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