--- title: Puppy power sniffs out water leaks description: "Sydney Water has its very own team of \"dog detectives\" tasked with sniffing out leaks, and its latest recruit is ready to hit the pipes." --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - [Member Hub ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-locked-icon.svg "user icon")](https://memberhub.awa.asn.au) - 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The 10-month-old pup will join Sydney Water’s taskforce of 300 staff maintaining the city's water and wastewater network, supported by an additional 15 staff out proactively looking for hidden [leaks](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/business/assets-and-operations/enhancing-sydney-waters-leak-prevention-through-acoustic-monitoring/).  He joins the utility’s two other wastewater leak detection [dogs](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/community/engagement/icon-water-keeping-canberras-canine-residents-hydrated/), Winnie, a working line cocker spaniel, and Ziggy, a working line springer spaniel. Working line dogs are selectively bred for the traits that allow them to excel in working in a specific field.  Primary dog handler Bettina Grieve, who is also a Sydney Water network scientist, told *WaterSource* about her unique role working with the canines. “Being a dog handler is simultaneously the most challenging and satisfying work I’ve ever done," she said. “It’s incredible to see the canine team tackle environmental protection challenges while keeping public health and safety at the forefront. It’s a privilege to be working with Joey, Winnie and Ziggy. I can’t wait to see how the Sydney Water’s pipe leak dog detection team grows in the future!” Joey is trained to detect chlorine in the water, while [Winnie and Ziggy](https://watersource.awa.asn.au/business/assets-and-operations/utility-recruits-four-legged-staff-impawtant-leak-detection-work/) sniff out leaks in Sydney Water’s wastewater network of 26,000 km across Greater Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. In just 7 months, Winnie and Ziggy have cleared 24 areas of wastewater pollution and discovered a number of pollution leaks including illegal dumping of wastewater and trade waste chemicals, wastewater leaks into stormwater canals, pressure mains leaks, and found sources of odour complaints.  The dogs are trained with a ball reward system that teaches positive reinforcement. The dog gets the tennis ball when he finds the water leak. They then use another process called negative reinforcement. If the dog makes a mistake, the ball gets taken away — but Sydney Water stresses that they do not use any form of punishment or hitting. They are sent out to locations based on the utility’s assessments of locations where there could be leaks due to poor pressure or routine maintenance. The dogs live together at our site in Potts Hill during the week and at a kennel in Arcadia on the weekend. Sydney Water says that like guide dogs, if the public encounter the leak detection dogs going about their job, they shouldn’t be patted. In addition to the dogs, the utility uses technology including acoustic listening devices to find leaks underground. Sydney Water says that it is saving 56 ML a day due to its proactive leak programs, with an average of 40 leaks and breaks per day. Most of these are minor leaks with minimal water loss and do not impact property. [ Pollution ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/pollution) [ Leak Detection ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/leak-detection) [ Sydney Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/sydney-water) [ Public Health ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/public-health) [ Pipes ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/pipes) [ Dogs ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/dogs) [ Pipe Inspection ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/pipe-inspection) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=Puppy%20power%20sniffs%20out%20water%20leaks&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/puppy-power-sniffs-out-water-leaks) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/puppy-power-sniffs-out-water-leaks) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/puppy-power-sniffs-out-water-leaks) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/public-health/puppy-power-sniffs-out-water-leaks) ## RELATED NEWS [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/TasWater-waterleaks.jpg?width=352&name=TasWater-waterleaks.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/taswater-identifying-leaks-using-sound-underground) ### [ TasWater identifying leaks using sound of the underground ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/taswater-identifying-leaks-using-sound-underground) Cecilia Harris In an effort to reduce non-revenue water within its network, TasWater is implementing an active leakage management strategy using… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/technology/innovation/taswater-identifying-leaks-using-sound-underground) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/water-tap-7569844_1280.jpg?width=352&name=water-tap-7569844_1280.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/leak-detection-partnership-brings-savings-to-regional-queensland-town) ### [ Leak detection partnership brings savings to regional Queensland town ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/leak-detection-partnership-brings-savings-to-regional-queensland-town) Water Source A leak detection program that has saved Unitywater $35 million and 11 billion litres of water in the past 10 years is being… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/leak-detection-partnership-brings-savings-to-regional-queensland-town) ### [ Leak-sniffing pups save utilities water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/leak-sniffing-pups-save-utilities-water) Cecilia Harris Just in case anyone needed more proof that dogs are awesome, Sydney Water, Water Corporation and Urban Utilities are achieving… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/community/engagement/leak-sniffing-pups-save-utilities-water) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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