Sniffer Dog - Harry

The under dogs: Canines sniff out underground leaks in Vattenfall heat network piping

  • In The Netherlands, Vattenfall has been researching the use of sniffer dogs to detect water leaks in the underground piping used to deliver district heating.
  • The first results were promising and Vattenfall is now looking at whether the dogs can replace the current thermal imaging cameras used for water leak detection.
  • Three dogs are currently trained. Harry and Nemo specialise in detecting demineralised water and Juro is a specialist in sniffing out polyurethane.  

In The Netherlands, Vattenfall has been researching the use of sniffer dogs to detect water leaks in the underground piping used to deliver district heating. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

The first results were promising and Vattenfall is now looking at whether the dogs can replace the current thermal imaging cameras used for water leak detection.

Mark Spithorst, Piping Technical Specialist at Vattenfall, came up with the idea of using sniffer dogs. Together with Scent Imprint for Dogs (S.I.F.D.), a Dutch company that provides dog detection training, he set up a special training for leak detection in district heating pipes.

The dogs were trained using the scents from demineralised water and polyurethane. Demineralised water is released when a heating pipe leaks, and polyurethane can be detected when water from outside the pipe enters the heat pipe’s insulated polyurethane jacket.

Harry the sniffer dog

Three dogs are currently trained. Harry and Nemo specialise in detecting demineralised water and Juro is a specialist in sniffing out polyurethane. When the dog finds a spill, it sits down and points to the area with its nose.

Mark Spithorst Piping Technical Specialist at Vattenfall said:

"Normally, we locate leaks by aiming a thermal imaging camera at the ground and at homes. Of course, residents often react to this and wonder what we are doing pointing a camera at their house. We get the same when we are tracking leaks with the dogs, but the residents are usually enthusiastic, and interested in what we are doing.”

Wesley Visscher of Scent Imprint for Dogs (S.I.F.D.) said:

“We selected dogs that enjoy this type of work. They are very enthusiastic and have a great time. Of course, we make sure they don't work too hard by alternating the dogs and letting them rest regularly.”

At the moment, the dogs are only used in Almere, a province in The Netherlands, with the aim of rolling out the training so that detection dogs can be used in more places.

See also

Vattenfall's response to the UK Government's Industrial Strategy and Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan

Responding to the publication of the Industrial Strategy and Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan.

Read the full article

Muir Mhòr floating offshore wind farm project passes planning milestone

Our joint venture with Fred. Olsen Seawind has passed another major milestone with the approval of our onshore consent application. 

Read the full article

Vattenfall IDNO partners with Netcontrol to improve efficiency of networks

Vattenfall IDNO has entered a strategic partnership with Netcontrol to roll out advanced automation solutions across its UK electricity networks.

Read the full article