Hydro excavation

Hydro Excavation is a safe and efficient form of excavation. However it is totally unsuitable for archaeological excavation. Using a powerful vacuum and high pressure water, precise holes, trenches and tunnels can be cut to the required size and proportion. Because water is used, the risk of damage to underground utilities is non-existent and contractors can safely find and expose them. Using conventional means, a huge section of the street must be removed to allow a backhoe to dig down to buried utilities, but using hydro excavation requires only a small access hole. Often excavation reveals unknown utilities, saving lives money and time.

Also referred to as "daylighting" as the underground utilities are exposed to daylight during the process. Also referred to as "vacuum excavation".

Why is it Used?

This non-destructive type of excavating is quickly becoming recognized as a best practice [ [http://www.orcga.com/lib/db2file.asp?fileid=261 ORCGA Best Practices Guide v4.0 (See 4-19 and 4-28)] ] when working in areas with underground utility congestion and frozen ground. Hydro excavation virtually eliminates any chance of damaging utilities, which may often be inaccurately located and marked on the surface.