The volume of water being extracted from England’s rivers has reached record highs, with potentially devastating consequences for both people and wildlife, a new investigation has revealed.

An analysis of licensing data by Watershed Investigations found that the amount of water taken from rivers and lakes for industrial and public use has surged by 76% over the past 20 years. Between 2018 and 2023, an average of 11.6 million cubic metres (410 cu ft) was abstracted annually, compared to 6.6 million in the early 2000s.

Abstraction—the process of removing water from rivers, lakes, aquifers or tidal sources—is regulated through licences granted by the Environment Agency or Natural Resources Wales for activities such as farming, industry, and public supply. Anyone extracting more than 20 cubic metres per day requires a permit. Similar regulations apply in Scotland.

Currently, river abstraction makes up 61% of all water taken from natural sources, up from under 40% at the beginning of the century. Groundwater abstraction has also climbed sharply, increasing by 53% since 2018. Meanwhile, tidal water usage has dropped dramatically, from almost half of total abstraction to just over a quarter.

“Our rivers are under threat,” said Nick Measham, the chief executive of the conservation charity WildFish. “We are putting extra demands on water resources when the rivers are running dry. When it does rain after persistent dry periods, we often return our water polluted, which means that river habitats for animals and plants are in serious trouble.”

Some of the rise in reported abstraction stems from previously unregulated activities now being brought under licensing. While some uses are considered non-consumptive—such as hydropower, cooling water for power stations, or navigation—campaigners point out that these still result in water losses, and that returned water is often polluted.

Over the past decade, the maximum licensed volume for river and lake abstraction has increased by 6%, rising from 25.5 to 27 billion cubic metres. In contrast, permitted abstraction from groundwater and tidal sources has declined by 4% and 42%, respectively, since 2013.

The Environment Agency has long warned that, without action, an extra 5 billion litres per day will be needed for public water supply by 2055—plus an additional 1 billion litres for industry and agriculture.

Initially, 80% of this demand will need to be met by reducing consumption and fixing leakage. Water companies still lose approximately 19% of their supply—about 3 billion litres each day—through leaking infrastructure.

Experts argue this situation could have been mitigated with earlier investment in new storage and supply infrastructure.

“We should have been building reservoirs 10 years ago,” said one industry source, blaming successive governments for “a lack of appetite” for it.

With limited water storage capacity, companies often plan to abstract even more water from rivers during droughts—precisely when ecosystems are most vulnerable.

Measham said: “There has been a woeful lack of forward thinking to cope with demand. Depleted and polluted, rivers that were once abundant in fish, invertebrates, mammals and birds turn into a line of fetid pools that eventually dry out completely.”

On the River Itchen, the impact is already evident. In both 2022 and 2024, the number of returning adult salmon plummeted to the lowest and third-lowest levels ever recorded, with just 133 and 187 fish respectively. A further drought could push this endangered species—and the river itself—towards ecological collapse.

“The cost is to the rivers, they are paying the price, and fish are paying the price,” said WildFish’s Janina Gray.

The water industry acknowledges the urgency of the crisis.

A Water UK spokesperson said: “The threat to our water security is not a distant risk, it’s a looming challenge. After not building a single reservoir in over 30 years, we’ve finally been given initial approval for 10, plus seven water recycling schemes. These projects will help reduce pressure on abstraction.”

Some regions have seen sharp increases in water abstraction. In the Midlands, volumes rose by 132% in a decade, from 1.6 to 3.6 billion cubic metres, rivaling levels in the north-west. In contrast, southern England recorded a 26% decrease. In Wales, Powys accounts for 42% of all authorised abstraction, mainly for water supply and energy, followed by Conwy, Ceredigion and Gwynedd.

According to the Environment Agency, around 15% of rivers and lakes and 27% of groundwater bodies are being abstracted at levels that cause environmental harm. By the 2050s, summer river flows in England could fall by as much as 33%.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said the nation’s water resources are facing “enormous and growing pressure”. They said: By harnessing the latest technology and intelligence, upgrades to the licensing system will allow us to focus inspections on the highest-risk abstractions and provide real-time information to water users.

“New powers under the Water Special Measures Act mean we can enforce licensing more effectively and ensure water companies are held accountable when they fall short of expected standards.”

In response, the government has recently published a national framework for water resources, outlining plans for long-term reform.

A Defra spokesperson said: “Rapid population growth, crumbling infrastructure and climate change mean we need a major water overhaul. The government has secured £104bn in private investment for nine new reservoirs and new pipes, and is modernising the abstraction system to protect the environment.”

 

——————————————————————————

At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.