Mansfield uses a rescue dog to detect water leaks
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River lives with his handler and water inspection coworker, Brad Blan. Photo: Tasha Tsiaperas/Axios
River, a rambunctious Labrador retriever mix, is Mansfield's new "technology" to identify leaks in the city's water lines.
Why it matters: The city lost more than 79 million gallons of water in 2025 due to pipeline leaks and other issues in the system.
- As the Dallas-Fort Worth region grows and demand for water increases, cities are looking for new ways to conserve water.
Driving the news: River, 2, is one of the first canines in the region to sniff out leaks. He started working for Mansfield a little over a year ago after he was adopted from the city's animal shelter and trained in Arkansas.
- Arlington also launched a similar program in December, when the city introduced its first water leak detection K9, Splash.
By the numbers: The Tarrant Regional Water District is working to conserve current water resources and add supply to accommodate up to a 175% increase in demand due to population growth.
- Mansfield's population, for example, is expected to reach nearly 136,000 by 2035, up from about 94,000 currently.
How it works: There's a small amount of chlorine in drinking water to keep it clean. Water detection canines can smell the chemical and are trained to alert their human coworkers when they sniff it.
- River partners daily with water inspector Brad Blan to check areas of Mansfield where satellite imaging shows there might be a leak.
- The pup is fitted with his work vest when he's on a call. The outfit reminds the dog that he's working. He checks an area and paws at the ground to notify Blan that he's found a possible leak.
State of play: River can even smell traces of chlorine through concrete, making him a less invasive tool for finding leaks than exploratory digging.
- He's still early in his tenure, but he has already detected some unusual leaks, including one that was flowing into a sewer.
Fun fact: River attends community events to educate residents on water conservation and to take pictures with his fans.
- His tongue is usually sticking out.