Hydrovac Applications
Explore 18 hydro excavation use cases with step-by-step process guides, equipment recommendations, and safety considerations.
Potholing
Potholing is the process of creating a small test hole to expose and verify the exact location of underground utilities. Also known as "daylighting," potholing is the most common a...
Daylighting
Daylighting is the process of exposing underground utilities to daylight for visual inspection, verification, or to facilitate maintenance and repair work. While the term is someti...
Slot Trenching
Slot trenching is the process of excavating narrow, precise trenches for the installation of underground utilities, drainage systems, or other linear infrastructure. Hydrovac slot ...
Pipeline Exposure
Pipeline exposure is the use of hydrovac excavation to safely uncover buried pipelines for integrity inspection, coating assessment, repair, or modification. This is a critical app...
Bell Holing
Bell holing is a specialized excavation technique used to create a working space around a pipeline at locations where connections, taps, repairs, or equipment installations need to...
Remote Excavation
Remote excavation is a hydrovac technique where the truck is positioned a significant distance from the dig site, using extended hose runs to reach locations inaccessible to the ve...
Frozen Ground Excavation
Frozen ground excavation is one of hydrovac's most valuable capabilities, enabling year-round digging in climates where winter temperatures freeze soil to depths of several feet. U...
Contaminated Soil Removal
Contaminated soil removal using hydrovac excavation provides a safe, contained method for excavating soil affected by petroleum products, chemicals, heavy metals, or other hazardou...
Directional Drilling Support
Directional drilling support is a critical hydrovac application where hydrovac trucks work alongside horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rigs to provide potholing, bore pit excav...
Foundation Excavation
Foundation excavation using hydrovac is employed when new building, equipment, or structure foundations must be constructed in areas with dense underground utility infrastructure. ...
Utility Installation
Utility installation using hydrovac encompasses the excavation required to install new underground pipes, conduits, cables, and related infrastructure in areas where existing burie...
Fiber Optic Installation
Fiber optic installation is a specialized utility installation application where hydrovac excavation supports the deployment of fiber optic networks for telecommunications, interne...
Catch Basin Cleaning
Catch basin cleaning using hydrovac equipment combines high-pressure water jetting with powerful vacuum to remove accumulated sediment, debris, and standing water from storm draina...
Culvert Cleaning
Culvert cleaning with hydrovac equipment restores flow capacity to drainage culverts that have become obstructed by sediment, vegetation, and debris accumulation. Clogged culverts ...
Sign & Pole Installation
Sign and pole installation using hydrovac provides safe excavation for traffic signs, light poles, utility poles, and other vertical installations in areas with underground utiliti...
Tree Root Excavation
Tree root excavation using hydrovac is a specialized application that exposes root systems without causing the cutting, tearing, and crushing damage that occurs with mechanical exc...
Emergency Excavation
Emergency excavation using hydrovac provides rapid, safe access to buried utilities during crisis situations including water main breaks, gas leaks, sewer collapses, and electrical...
Debris Removal
Debris removal using hydrovac equipment combines the vacuum system's powerful suction with water jetting to remove accumulated materials from vaults, pits, tanks, and other confine...
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