Hydro Excavation and What to Know

hydro excavation in street

Common and Traditional digging with machinery or by hand is a lengthy and very often, arduous process. With hydro excavation, dirt is vacuumed away automatically into a tank, which means the project can move forward much quicker.

This non-mechanical process is safer for laborers and people passing your construction site and doesn’t involve to much cumbersome technology. It reduces the risk of equipment accidents, as well as costly repairs.

Hydro Excavation causes Less Damage to Underground Pipes/Utilities

Hydro excavation is much more precise than other digging methods, preventing damage to pipes, sewer lines, and cables. Hitting these buried utilities can cause severe issues and a long and expensive repair process. With hydro excavation, this risk is eliminated.

The pressurized water in the vacuum truck breaks up the soil and is instantly removed into a debris tank, reducing the risk of line strikes. Even when digging in potholing or trenching projects, hydro excavation reduces the risk of hitting underground pipes and utilities significantly.

Additionally, since the equipment is self-contained, fewer crew members must operate it. This cuts down on labor costs and makes the job more efficient. Additionally, the debris is removed from the site much more quickly than with traditional digging. This also reduces the need for restoration once the work is completed. This is a great option when working in tight or congested spaces that conventional digging equipment cannot access.

Hydro Excavation Causes Less Damage to the Environment

Hydro excavation can accurately cut holes without damaging existing underground pipes or utilities when digging holes for signs, poles, traffic signals, and other structures. This makes it a prudent alternative to the traditional deployment of mechanical excavators and backhoes that may cause damage to buried power lines, gas, and sewer systems during the excavation process.

Hydro excavation can also be safely performed in cold weather conditions where the ground tends to freeze, making it difficult for trenchers and backhoes to work. Hydro excavation equipment is equipped with heaters that thaw the soil as they cut through it, eliminating the need for coal or wood fires to warm the earth before digging can begin. This reduces the risk of uncontrolled fires in explosive areas and eliminates soil and air pollution.

Hydro excavation is less destructive to the environment, so it can be done in smaller spaces and requires fewer crew members. This reduces the time spent on project clean-up and restoration, saving your business money over the long term.

It’s better for Your Property

Traditional digging with backhoes and shovels can damage underground pipes and cables, resulting in expensive repairs. With hydro excavation, these damages are avoided.

Because the water moves soil more accurately, it avoids pipes and underground utilities, reducing the likelihood of leaks or cracks. This can save a significant amount of money.

Another benefit of hydro excavation is that the dirt slurry is sucked directly into a large tank for later disposal. This can significantly reduce the amount of dirt that needs to be removed from your property during and after the digging process.

This can also reduce the need for backfill and restoration, reducing the project’s time. Finally, because the equipment can be positioned away from the actual digging site, it’s easier to keep traffic and congestion at a minimum. This can further reduce costs for the project.

Hydro Excavation causes Less Damage to Utilities

Using a backhoe or even hand digging can cause damage to pipes and lines underground. The pressurized water of hydro excavation can safely expose these underground utilities without causing any damage. This reduces service interruptions and the need for expensive repairs in the future.

Contractors can beat project completion deadlines because the process is faster than traditional methods. Accurate excavation also means less backfilling is needed, saving time and money.

It’s also safer for workers to operate the equipment, reducing the risk of accidents. Workers who use heavy machinery in populated areas are vulnerable to injuries, but hydro excavation equipment only uses water and an air vacuum. This makes it safe for the laborers working in the area and nearby residents who may be affected by construction accidents. This reduces insurance and liability costs for contractors. It also makes it easy for them to meet the safety requirements of their clients. This leads to improved company reputation and profitability.