What Is Hydro Excavation?

Hydro excavation or Non-Destructive Digging (NDD) is widely utilised in the Civil and Utilities markets and is a great alternative to traditional excavation when uncovering underground assets or potholing around existing services without accurate plans. There are a number of industries that need hydro excavation, they include: Construction: Construction of commercial establishments, industrial facilities and residential houses can’t begin if the ground is not properly excavated. Hydro excavation provides a more cost-efficient and quicker method for digging. This process does not add to the safety risks of construction sites. Utilities: In the street, our light posts, road signs, traffic lights, etc. all need to be installed by excavating the ground. For residential areas, gas and water mains require maintenance and also need digging for installation to occur. The high pressurized water can cut through soil and create accurate and precise holes allowing crews to complete maintenance work without damaging nearby services. Plumbing: Hydro excavation has been very helpful to the plumbing industry as it can dig through soil without causing damage to underground utilities. It’s also a fast process so operations can continue as soon as possible. Pipelines and sewers are mostly installed underground. To have this done, soil needs to be excavated, hauled and restored. Underground utilities are needed for almost every kind of building. Equipment used in hydro excavation combines high-pressure water with air vacuum. This system cuts through soils and breaks it up. The vacuum then lifts the slurry from the excavation area and the debris is transferred to a debris tank. Hydro excavation provides several benefits and is now the most preferred method of digging for many contractors because of its powerful and accurate results with reduced risk of damaging existing assets. The main benefit of hydro excavation is that it provides better damage and safety control compared to mechanical methods. Since it is accurate, it limits accidents and injuries and does a better job of digging. Using hydro excavation avoids damage to underground pipes, lines and cables. This eliminates the high costs of repairs and restoration. Needing to do fewer repairs means less time to get the job done. Interrupted utilities bring inconveniences and high costs. This process of excavation is able to minimize damage. Hydro excavation is a method that creates a better service for the customer and that makes life easier for the contractors, the customers and the laborers.