Ryan Lawrie and dogged Danny prove spot on as Unitywater springs a costly leak

This four-legged super sleuth is trained to detect the chlorine and fluoride used in treated water right down to the molecular level.

Danny the uncanny canine water leak tracker dog used by Unitywater to solve a mystery.

Sunshine Coast’s utility Unitywater has gone to the dogs after extensive searching in rough Maleny terrain failed to locate a costly water leak.

Or one dog in particular – Danny, the English springer spaniel, a four-legged super sleuth trained to detect the chlorine and fluoride used in treated water right down to the molecular level.

The three-year-old is one of only four water leak dog detectors in Australia and less than 10 of its kind exist in the world.

This was the first time Unitywater had called in the Bellden Environmental Services.

Bellden owner Dennis Gannaway said Danny already had an enviable track record working outside the Coast, having located about 100 leaks of all sizes for an 80 per cent success rate.

Unitywater spokesman Rhett Duncan was impressed by Danny’s ability to help pinpoint the errant underground H2O.

Bellden Environmental Services owner Dennis Gannaway.

Mr Duncan said Unitywater engineers had narrowed the search to a 1.9km section of hilly terrain outside of Maleny.

“This case presented unique circumstances and highlights that we will do everything we can to provide a continuous supply of water to our customers,” he said.

“Usually leaks will rise to the surface.

“In the instance of the main leak we were looking for, the leaking water was presenting a fair way from the actual trunk water main,” Mr Duncan said.

Danny tracked the main leak surface source to about 100 metres from the leaking pipe.

“He was spot on in that regard,” Mr Duncan said.

Bellden dog handler Ryan Lawrie said Danny’s going to water was all a bit of a lark.

“At the end of the day the only reward that he wants is a ball, so all of this is just for a ball, it’s all just fun for him,” Mr Lawrie said.

Water leaks can be reported on Unitywater’s fault service at www.unitywater.com/faults-and-outages/report-a-fault-online