Experts are warning of the risks of spreading invasive and non-native species when moving large volumes of untreated lake, reservoir and river water.

Development of cities and the demands of agriculture mean that huge volumes of untreated water from lakes, reservoirs and rivers are now routinely moved large distances, across countries, up to hundreds of miles, using pipelines, tunnels and water supply canals. Known as raw water transfers schemes, these projects are essential for human uses but risk moving not just water but also wildlife, spreading invasive and non-native species, such as zander fish and zebra mussels.

In a series of new papers, researchers from Newcastle University and the University of Stirling are now warning that invasive species can be moved between often unlinked waterbodies by the intentional transfer of water and call for action.