'They see with their noses': Detector dogs trained to sniff out water leaks From crop failures to shrinking lakes, Europe is increasingly suffering from a lack of water. According to the European Environment Agency, around 30 percent of the continent's population is already affected by shortages. Preventing water leaks has become a priority for many cities. In France, a special dog brigade has been trained to locate leaky pipes. As the dogs are able to detect chlorine, they can pinpoint leaks quickly and efficiently. Our team at Down to Earth reports.