Dogs being used to stop sewage entering rivers

Nikki Glover has helped to train dogs to detect water leaks

A water company says it is the first in the UK to have an in-house team of detection dogs tasked with sniffing out wastewater leaks.

Wessex Water has trained dogs to spot pollution leaks across its patch in Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

They have now also started using their spaniels to protect wildlife by spotting great crested newts, which are a protected amphibian species currently in decline in the UK.

Nikki Glover, the company's first canine handler, said: "Bluey and Bandit have been training for the past six months, using odours on the lids of manhole covers."

Wastewater misconnections most commonly occur when a pipe or appliance in the home, such as a toilet or shower, is incorrectly connected to a surface water sewer. This can lead to pollutants entering rivers and streams, harming aquatic life, a spokesman said.

Dogs have up to 300 million scent receptors compared to humans who only have six million, which allowed them to sniff out information that Wessex Water then used to detect where possible water leaks were.

Ms Glover added: "They [the dogs] are already proving very effective working alongside our Stream Clean team to find misconnections quicker, saving time and money alongside the obvious environmental benefits."

'Very effective'

She has worked at Wessex Water as an ecologist since 2016 and has launched the company's  great crested newt project.

Ms Glover released a paper to show dogs could detect great crested newts through soil.

In her study, she said: "The performance of trained detection dogs in wildlife searches is generally four to 12 times better than that of experienced human surveyor."

The licenced ecologist then moved the newt out of harm's way before construction activities commence.

The dogs would also use a similar method to find wastewater leaks, by detecting a change in smell and alerting their handler.

All five dogs currently live with Ms Glover and are on a healthy diet with supplements to keep them fit and strong, as well as receiving the best care and attention.

A Wessex Water spokesperson added: "When the dogs are not working, they are relaxing with their paws up on the sofa, going for casual strolls in the countryside, receiving lots of tummy tickles and lots of grooms and individual attention."

They added the welfare of the dogs their main priority.

"The dogs receive regular health checks and veterinary care, and they will be assessed by the Veterinary Task Force annually to check they are fit for duty," they said.