Hydro excavation is a more efficient and cleaner way to dig and move soil. Instead of manually digging with a shovel or excavating with the help of a backhoe, hydro excavation liquefies the soil by injecting highly pressurized water into the ground. An air vacuum then carries away the slurry mixture to a debris tank. This method is non-destructive, more efficient, safer and more cost effective compared to traditional excavating methods.

 

The Pitfalls of Manual and Backhoe Digging

 

While shovel digging and operating a backhoe are more popular methods of exposing underground soil, they are not very accurate. In the end, you need to do more backfilling to complete the job.

 

Even if you are only excavating a small area, manual digging can be very labor intensive and time-consuming. Meanwhile, heavy machinery such as a backhoe can cause damage to the surrounding area and put your workers at risk.

With hydro excavation, you will never encounter these issues. This non-mechanical, eco-friendly soil removal method gets the job done faster without overworking your excavating crew. You’ll be able to reduce construction costs while ensuring precise and superior results.

 

Applications of Hydrovac Excavation

 

Hydro excavation is made possible by modern vacuum pump technology. Hydrovac trucks pump highly pressurized water into the ground to soften the soil. The sludge is then extracted by vacuum and carried away.

 

Hydrovac trucks can help save you an enormous amount of time when you need to dig and move soil for the following applications:

  • Cutting trenches for laying pipes or poles
  • Installing sewer systems and water lines
  • Maintenance of existing installations
  • Removal of contaminated soil
  • Daylighting to expose the underground
  • Potholing
  • Landscaping

The benefits of hydro excavation are now being recognized in many industries, including construction, telecommunications, utility, electrical, oil, gas, subsurface engineering, and plant maintenance.

 

There are two main benefits of hydro excavation: improved safety and cost efficiency.

Improved safety

 

As the name suggests, hydrovac has two components: water and vacuum. There is no electricity or fuel that could put people in danger. The hydrovac truck does not even have to be on the actual construction area. Parking it at a safe distance can reduce traffic and congestion at the excavation site. It also means that no heavy equipment or machinery could come into contact with pedestrians – minimizing injury risks to workers and keeping passersby safe from accidents.

 

Cost efficiency

 

Traditional excavation methods often leave a lot of post-digging work that requires an additional cleanup crew. With hydro excavation, all of that becomes unnecessary as the hydrovac truck does an excellent job at preventing damage to underground utilities, surrounding pipes, surrounding soil, and the environment.

 

Fewer repairs and less backfilling mean additional cost savings for you. This makes hydrovac excavation the best method for moving soil.

D&L Environmental Services can help you excavate soil more safely and efficiently. Our Hydrovac trucks have been servicing dry wells and sludge ponds and making accurate environmental test holes in the Kelowna, Vernon, and Penticton areas. Contact us today to find out how we can help on your next project.