England’s rivers ‘under threat’ as water extraction surges to record levels

Exclusive: Investigation finds 76% rise in water taken from rivers and lakes for industrial or public consumption in two decades

The amount of water being sucked from England's rivers has surged to record levels, with potentially disastrous consequences for people and wildlife, it can be revealed.

An investigation into licensing data by Watershed Investigations and the Guardian found that the volume of water taken from rivers and lakes for industrial or public consumption has jumped 76% in two decades: 11.6m cubic metres (410 cu ft) were abstracted in the five years to 2023, up from 6.6m in the early 2000s.