Hydro Excavation | Hydro Vac : Basic Facts

Hydro excavation is also commonly known as vacuum excavation, pot holing, hydro digging etc. This process of excavation utilizes pressurized air or water for hydro excavating and a vacuum contraption to remove the excavated material. It is typically used when underground material or infrastructure needs to be installed or repaired.

Hydro vac services carry out the non-destructive hydrovac process with pressurized water and a flow of air for excavating and evacuating native soils. This hydro excavating procedure is carried out in a controlled manner. The resulting soil and water slush are conveyed into a debris tank which is typically mounted on a truck. The hydro excavation process is much preferred to other methods of digging because it is fast, exact and clean; it needs much less backfill and less labour. The hydrovac process makes restoration a simple process and has negligible environmental impact.

During hydro excavation, a controlled flow of water is released which allows for precise and accurate digging – this is particularly useful for removing only the material surrounding what’s needed to be repaired or inspected. A typical hydro excavator is a fully equipped, self-contained unit that has several components and the entire package is essential for an efficient and effective excavation service. The hydro excavator has both industrial and civic use. Remote digging in manufacturing plants, utility locations and large pit exposure are some of the areas where hydro excavation is used in industry while hydrant replacements, water main repair etc. are its civic areas of use.

When you have an excavation project that is ideal for a hydro vac application, it’s important to make sure that the hydro excavating system is genuine and the company is reputable and experienced. Some hydrovac service providers may use an ordinary vacuum truck for the HX job but only a specialized hydro-excavator can provide safe excavation. A normal vacuum truck could have vacuumed sanitary waste or industrial waste like grease, oils or hazardous manufacturing by-products. If the excavated material is to be left at the site of the hydro-excavation, then an ordinary vacuum truck could end up polluting the site with waste from elsewhere. You should also be aware that if the service provider is using a truck that has a water pump that is not built specifically for vacuum excavation, they may use significantly more water than is necessary. This produces excessive debris which takes more time and effort to process which can result in overall higher costs to the customer.

A vacuum tube having a metal tip should never be used because the jagged end could damage wires/ pipe coatings/ pipes/ utility casings etc. A rubber tipped vacuum tube is the preferred instrument for use. The water tube nozzle should preferably be made from non-sparking material like plastic encapsulated nozzles. Finally when you use a professional hydro vac contractor, you can confident that the workers have been educated and trained to manage the risks associated with hydro excavating such as the live energy risks under the ground. Proper safety equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, boots, protective overalls and air monitoring equipment should always be used on the job site.

Power Plus Utility is the author of this article on Hydro Excavation. Find more information, about Hydro Vac Services here.