Water companies in England could face faster and larger fines for environmental offences, such as sewage spills, under a new government consultation.
The plans would bolster the Environment Agency's powers, allowing it to impose penalties of up to £500,000 using a lower standard of proof for offences like permit breaches.
Currently, the regulator must prove offences to the criminal standard of "beyond reasonable doubt," a process described as too expensive and time-consuming for less serious cases.
The proposed changes would allow the Agency to use the civil standard, "on the balance of probabilities," to clamp down on minor to moderate offending more swiftly.
Secretary of State Emma Reynolds said she shared the public's "anger" over the state of the water system.
"I want to give the Environment Agency the teeth it needs to tackle all rule breaking," she said. "With new, automatic and tougher penalties... there will be swift consequences for offences."
The consultation, which launches today, will seek views on:
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Setting the maximum civil penalty at either £350,000 or £500,000.
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Introducing new "automatic" fines for specific, obvious breaches, with fixed penalties of £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000.
Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency, said the powers would be a "welcome boost," allowing the regulator to "deliver swifter and more appropriate penalties."
The government estimates the new regime could cost the water sector between £50m and £67m annually, but expects the actual cost to be lower as the policy is designed to drive "lasting behaviour change."
Ministers have confirmed that the cost of these penalties will be borne by company shareholders, and water regulator Ofwat will prevent the fines from being passed on to customers' bills.
The proposed powers were created by the recent Water (Special Measures) Act and deliver on a key manifesto pledge. The move builds on immediate government action, including blocking bonuses for water bosses whose companies commit serious pollution.
