In Türkiye, specially trained dogs are playing a crucial role in combating water scarcity by detecting underground water leaks using their keen sense of smell. This innovative approach comes as Türkiye faces increasing challenges related to water resources.
At a dog training academy in Ankara, experts are training dogs for various specialized tasks, including search and rescue, narcotics detection, and explosives detection. Among these talented canines, a Labrador Retriever named Maylo and a Golden Retriever named Ayaz have been selected for a new mission: identifying water leaks underground.
Maylo and Ayaz were introduced to the scent of chlorine early in their training. Chlorine is a chemical commonly found in treated water supplies. By detecting this scent, the dogs can locate leaks in the water network that may otherwise go unnoticed. Dog training expert Hasan Saratlı explained that the long-term objective is for the dogs to reach deeper underground levels, approximately 1.5 to 2 meters deep, to locate leaks in water pipelines that originate from reservoirs.