Sniffer dogs help Vivaqua detect water leaks in Brussels

Sarhan Basem
Credit: Belga Image

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Vivaqua, the Brussels water company, utilizes Al and drones for leak detection. Recently, they tested trained sniffer dogs to locate leaks by detecting chlorine. The trial was successful, prompting plans for future use in rural areas.

Vivaqua is a water company in Brussels. They use new technology to find leaks in the underground water system. Vivaqua is always looking for new ways to find water leaks. They recently learned about a method from France. In this method, dogs are trained to smell leaks by detecting chlorine. Chlorine is in treated drinking water, so these dogs can find small leaks. They can show where the problem is very accurately.

How is Vivaqua using Al, drones, and dogs to detect water leaks?

According to Saar Vanderplaetsen, a spokesperson for Vivaqua, said they are interested in this idea. He thinks that while AI and drones are helpful, trained dogs can offer extra support. He mentioned that this is good in places where regular methods do not work well. 

“We use Al techniques and drones to discover leaks in our infrastructure. But recently we heard that in France there is a special team with sniffer dogs working to find leaks. As always, they rely on the smell, in this case chlorine, which is always present in water,”

Says Saar Vanderplaetsen.

Last week, a team of sniffer dogs from France visited Brussels to help Vivaqua. They wanted to see if these dogs could find water leaks in the pipes. Vivaqua already uses AI and drones for this, but they were curious if the dogs could smell chlorine in the drinking water. 

According to Saar Vanderplaetsen, using the dogs in the busy city was difficult. The concrete and traffic made it hard for them to follow scents. So, Vivaqua decided to take the dogs to quieter places like the Sonian Forest and Walloon Brabant. They said that these areas are better for the dogs to smell any chlorine leaks from underground pipes.

Vivaqua mentioned that the trial was a success. The sniffer dogs found many leaks in the areas they checked. Saar Vanderplaetsen said this showed that using dogs could work, especially in rural and forest areas. In these places, regular tools might not be as effective. Because of these good results, Vivaqua is thinking about doing the test again. They might create a special team of dogs to find leaks in the quieter parts of Brussels.

The company still believes in using modern technology. However, this test showed that trained dogs can be a helpful addition. They mentioned that they can work well in places where AI and drones may not do their best. The success of this project could lead to a better way to check water systems.

“It was a success, a successful test. We are now going to see if we repeat this and if we set up such a dog team ourselves to detect leaks in rural areas in Brussels,

Concludes Vanderplaetsen.

Vivaqua always uses these tools for detection. One tool is artificial intelligence or AI. This helps them look at a lot of data from sensors placed around the city. They mentioned that the AI can find problems with water pressure, flow rates, and how much water people use. This helps engineers find leaks before they get worse. 

Vivaqua also uses drones with special cameras and sensors to check for leaks. These drones can look at large areas and find temperature changes in the ground. They mentioned that these changes might mean that water is escaping from pipes.

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Brussels Morning is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning's Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
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