Hydro Excavation is the process of excavating soil with pressurized water the using a vacuum to transfer the material into a debris tank. This allows for a non-destructive and more accurate way to excavate soil. This type of soil excavation is becoming very desirable when locating underground utilities.

The advantage to using hydro-excavation during cold weather is often the soil can be frozen. This makes it harder to excavate using traditional mechanical means. Contractors discovered that using hydro-excavation with heated water was an effective alternative.

How Hydro Excavation Works

High-pressure water is combined with an air vacuum with using hydro-excavation. The high-pressure water cuts through the soils and breaks it up, creating a type of slurry. The vacuum is then able to lift the slurry from the excavation area. The material is transferred to a debris tank.

Applications

Hydro Excavation trucks can be used in the following industry applications:

• Water Utilities
• Electrical Companies
• Road Construction
• Commercial Construction
• Production Facilities
• Storm Drain and Municipal Utilities
• Gas Pipelines
• Oil Refineries
• Telecommunications

When facilities require underground construction and subsurface utilities, excavation for these types of projects can be difficult and present substantial risks to the contractor. Buried utilities and underground piping are always cause for concern. Hydro excavation lessened these risks and can be used for several excavation applications such as:

• Directional Drilling
• Trenching and Excavation
• Waterline Repair
• Debris Removal
• Pipeline and Waterline Placement
• Sign and Pole Installation

Benefits

The benefits hydro excavation brings to industrial excavation are numerous. It is becoming the most preferred method of digging because of its efficient and accurate results.

The primary benefit of hydro excavation is that it provides for better damage and safety control when compared with mechanical methods. Since it is accurate, it limits accidents and injuries for laborers as well as other people. Risks of damage to pipes is mitigated when hydro-excavation is used for pipe and sewer rehabilitation. Additional time and cost associated with repairs if necessary due to damage are eliminated. This process of excavation is able to minimize damages.

With the safety risks and repairs lessened, hydro excavation also reduces insurance and liability costs as a long-term benefit. In general, hydro excavation makes life easier for the contractors, personnel and our clients.