BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – The Berkeley County Water and Sanitation Department has a new “employee.” This one, though, is furry, gets around on four legs and has a keen sense of smell.
Meet Agua, a Labrador Retriever-mix, trained to help BCWS staff detect water leaks in service lines and water mains.
In Oct. 2020, county officials said Berkeley Animal Society donated Agua to Berkeley County Water and Sanitation. Agua trained with Lowcountry Dog Training to learn to detect water leaks.
Since training, she has detected several service lines leaks across the county, including utilities in neighboring municipalities.
During one particular call in Oct. 2021, the county said Agua was able to identify a sewer line leak within 30 minutes after a contractor had spent many days trying to locate it.
“Agua has turned out to be a great asset for Berkeley County Water and Sanitation and the County as a whole, saving us lots of time and money—and she never calls out sick! Our success with this unique canine is due largely in part to Berkeley Animal Center, Lowcountry Dog Training, and Pet Supplies Plus of Goose Creek. We are confident Agua will continue to be a vital community resource in the future,” said Doug Tompkins, BCWS Director.
Agua trains weekly and works closely with a BCWS service truck operator, county officials said.
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