Portsmouth Water in Hampshire is using specially trained dogs to find hidden leaks in underground pipes to save water and improve local services. The company brought in a team of sniffer dogs, including a springer spaniel named Kilo, to pinpoint bursts that are difficult to find with standard electronic tools.
The dogs were trained by specialist firm CAPE SPC (Canine Assisted Pest Eradication) to detect the faint scent of chlorine in treated water. When a dog detects that scent, it indicates the spot to engineers — commonly by sitting or adopting a steady “stare” at the source — so teams can excavate with high precision.
The initiative is aligned with Portsmouth City Council’s climate action and resilience objectives and with Portsmouth Water’s own leakage‑reduction programme. By locating and repairing otherwise “invisible” leaks more quickly, the company aims to save millions of litres of treated water every day and to help protect supply during dry spells.
Portsmouth Water already uses satellite imagery and acoustic loggers to find leaks; the dogs are particularly effective in rural or soft/boggy ground where those electronic methods can struggle. According to the company briefing, the canine unit is now an established part of its maintenance operations, working alongside the other technologies to keep the water network running more efficiently.
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