Three water companies are facing a combined record 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 follows an investigation into the firms' management of their sewage treatment works and wider networks.
' He added: '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.' Read more from business:Asia's markets rebound after worldwide plungeMusk ramps up war of words with StarmerGoogle illegally maintained search monopoly There has been increasing concern over pollution of the UK's rivers and coastlines in recent years.