Hydroexcavation
Soft dig near live utilities — safer excavation, less restoration.
Also called hydrovac, soft dig, or vacuum excavation.
What we do
Safe excavation near live utilities
Water and vacuum dig without mechanical contact — safer beside gas, fiber, water, and electric. You get a precise hole where you need it.
Soft dig, NDE, daylighting, and potholing are this work.
Who it is for
Contractors and municipalities
Contractors
Keep fiber, gas, and electric builds moving without a strike shutting the job down. Use hydrovac for potholing ahead of HDD and work in tight easements.
Municipalities
Smaller excavations in streets and downtown corridors mean less lane closure and less restoration for your crews or contractor.
Where we use it
Common applications
- Potholing / daylighting before dig or HDD
- Slot trenching for conduit and drops
- Exposing valves, vaults, and buried plant
- Work near fiber, gas, water, and electric
- Frozen-ground digs with heated water
Why it matters
What you get
Protects live utilities
Water and vacuum expose plant without mechanical contact.
Smaller footprint
Dig only the opening the work requires.
Less restoration
Less spoil and asphalt — cleaner site turnover.
Keeps the schedule
Helps prevent utility strikes that stop a job.
After the dig
Hydrovac vs. traditional
What the site looks like when you are done
Hydrovac
Traditional
Opening
Tight hole sized to the work
Wider cut driven by bucket geometry
Surface
Smaller saw-cut or turf plug; easier to match grade
Larger pavement or sidewalk section to replace
Spoil
Contained in the truck
Spoil pile on-site until loaded out
Restoration
Less volume to compact and dress
Bigger patch, more settlement risk if rushed
How the job runs
Typical workflow
Scope & locate
Confirm marks, access, disposal, and traffic control.
Soft dig
Water and vacuum expose plant without mechanical contact.
Your work
Splice, repair, or inspect while the hole stays accessible.
Backfill & restore
Compact, dress grade, and leave the surface ready.
FAQ
Common questions
Is hydrovac the same as soft dig?
Yes. Hydroexcavation, hydrovac, soft dig, and vacuum excavation all describe digging with pressurized water and a vacuum. Daylighting and potholing are common uses of that method.
When should we use hydrovac instead of a backhoe?
Near live gas, fiber, water, or electric; in congested ROW; when the dig footprint matters; or when plans call for soft dig / NDE.
Can you work in frozen ground?
Yes. Heated water works when frost limits conventional digging.
Do you handle spoil disposal?
Spoil goes into the truck. We plan disposal with the job so you are not left with a pile on site.
Where do you work?
We serve Ohio and the Surrounding States, including Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Michigan, and Kentucky.
How do I get a quote?
Use our contact form with the utility, location, and window, or call (740) 675-6085.
Schedule hydroexcavation
Utility, location, and schedule — or call (740) 675-6085.