NZ's first leak detection puppies learning to sniff out wasted water

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Watercare is training New Zealand's first leak detection puppies: Collie crosses Flo, Piper and Awa.

In a first for New Zealand, Watercare is training dogs to sniff out hidden leaks in the underground water network.

The Auckland Council-controlled agency has adopted three collie cross siblings, Flo, Piper, and Awa.

The 6-month-old pups – who were given water-related names by Watercare staff – were adopted from Auckland Puppy Rescue after being abandoned in the Far North.

Flo and Piper had their tails illegally docked by a previous owner.

Flo, Piper and Awa are siblings and were adopted from Auckland Puppy Rescue.

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Watercare is training New Zealand’s first leak detection puppies, who can sniff out escaping chlorine gas.

They are currently undergoing intensive training five days a week at the Watercare facility in Māngere, south Auckland.

The pups are learning to sniff out the chlorine used to disinfect drinking water.

“Humans are having to go up and down streets twice, listening for vibrations, but the dogs can sniff the chlorine and find a leak quickly,” Richie Rameka, Watercare’s head of maintenance services networks, said.

It is harder for humans to detect leaks when there is vibration from vehicles, or construction noise in areas like the city centre, Rameka said.

The dogs are expected to be out in the field by the end of 2021.

The dogs are expected to sniff out small leaks, which humans are unable to find, before they get bigger.

They can then be repaired, stopping huge amounts of water from being wasted.

The programme is already underway in other countries like the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia.

According to overseas media, one dog, Kep, saved about 197 million litres in a year of working in Western Australia – about 80 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Flo, Piper and Awa are training on a makeshift road created by Watercare.

It has its own water network underground, and holes will be created in the pipes for the dogs to detect.

Leak detection dog trainer Freyja Knewstubb is training the dogs basic social skills and obedience manners for when they are out on the field.

“I train them for one hour, twice a day. I take them out for walks to get used to people.”

Suzanne Naylor, Watercare’s head of water value, said the agency has been working closely with its counterparts overseas in how best to train the dogs.

“We have been wanting to do this for a while now and this has been the best opportunity.”

Once they graduate, Flo, Piper and Awa will be seen out and about on Auckland’s streets.

That is expected by the end of this year.