Thames Water is set to be hit with an eye-watering £104m fine after a regulator found it had "routinely released sewage into rivers", including St Albans' River Ver.
Water watchdog Ofwat found that the company is responsible for failing to manage sewage spills that have blighted Hertfordshire's rivers and streams in recent years.
The River Ver is a precious chalk stream that runs through St Albans and Harpenden - one of only around 200 in the world.
This year, more than 2,500 hours of sewage has been pumped into the Ver, with E.coli also being found in the water.
Politicians and campaigners have repeatedly called on Thames Water and the government to tackle the crisis.
Ofwat said the firm “failed to ensure that discharges of untreated wastewater from storm overflows occur only in exceptional circumstances, which has resulted in harm to the environment and their customers”.
The announcement was welcomed by Harpenden and Berkhamsted MP Victoria Collins, who campaigned on the issue ahead of last month's General Election, as well as raising the issue in Parliament as part of her maiden speech.
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Reacting to the announcement, she said: “It is very welcome to see the regulator finally impose proper fines, following years of inaction and failure - which has caused serious harm here in Hertfordshire.
“But this is a game of catch-up after the previous Conservative government turned a blind eye to this environmental scandal for so long.
“We now need a ban on bonuses and an end to bumper profits by the industry."
The Liberal Democrat MP continued: "As a matter of urgency for our area, Thames Water must now prioritise upgrading the Markyate storm overflow which has discharged sewage for over 2,500 hours this year alone into the River Ver.
“This has flooded roads with sewage and endangered families who paddle in the river nearby at Waterend Lane and Redbournbury Watermill."
Throwing down the gauntlet to the water firm, she added: “Enough is enough. Thames Water must at long last get their house in order”.
A spokesperson for Thames Water said: “We take this matter very seriously and have co-operated at every stage of Ofwat’s investigation.
“We regard all untreated discharges as unacceptable, even when they are permitted, and are taking action to improve the health of our rivers as a key area of focus and investment.”
The proposed fines will now go to a public consultation.
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