What is Hydro Vac?

Hydro excavation is also called vacuum excavation, hydrovac, potholing, hydro-digging, hydro-trenching , or sucker truck.

The process uses pressurized water to break up the soil and a vacuum to remove the material to expose areas for repair or inspection with minimal material needed to be removed. Comparing this method with the larger and less accurate excavator or back-hoe buckets is safer, non-destructive and improves productivity SAFELY.

Though more widely used in North America, the hydro vac system is gaining international recognition as the best practice for uncovering facilities and is rendering traditional excavation methods obsolete. The main reason—it’s non-destructive method. Using high-pressured water to create slurry and cut through to underground utilities, and a high-powered vacuum to suction clean the debris and contain in a tank for disposal, the hydro vac system is safe and effective. No additional equipment is needed, and hydro vac units can often access areas not previously accessible by other equipment. The risk of utility strikes is removed from your worry.

Benefits of the Hydro vac System

• Non-destructive impact on what is being uncovered and the area around it
• Greater safety for employees and the public, in comparison to other excavation methods, due to non-destructive nature.
• Reduced risk of accidental hits to buried lines.
• Increased accessibility, allowing you to access areas of limited space.
• Fewer technicians needed to operate hydro vac units in comparison to other excavation equipment.
• Quicker process than other excavation methods.
• Effective in difficult soil conditions such as clays and cobbles.
• With simple modifications hydro vac units work extremely well on frozen ground.
• Cleaner work-site after excavation, resulting in less post cleanup time.

Other variations to hydro vac units include

• Tank Size
• Tank Division
• Blower Size
• Wash System (up to 20 GPM @ 4000 PSI)
• Boiler Size (up to 980,000 BTU)

Main Uses

• Locate and uncover underground lines and utilities
• Excavate where there is limited space
• Debris removal and clean-up
• Sign and pole installation
• Sewer and pipe maintenance and repair
• Precision digging
• Potholing
• Slot-trenching
• Service and splice pits
• Pipeline and utility crossings
• Directional drilling test holes