Vacuum excavation, also called hydro excavation, digs with pressurised water and suction. The water loosens the soil and a vacuum hose lifts the slurry into a tank on the truck. The opening stays small and the spoil is removed as the dig goes, which suits controlled digging near underground services and in tight spots where a machine bucket is a poor fit.
The water lance can cut through soils such as dirt, sand and clay, and the vacuum lifts the loosened material as the dig goes. It's a careful method, not a guarantee: water and suction can still damage a buried service, and results depend on the ground. Every job still needs current service information, locating where it's needed, any asset-owner conditions and the site's own safety controls.
The points below cover how vacuum excavation reduces risk near services, what to send with an enquiry and how the dig runs on site.
Our vacuum excavation services are a cornerstone of Non-Destructive Digging (NDD), and they reduce the risk to buried services compared with mechanical digging. The risk isn't removed entirely, so service plans, locating and the site's own safety controls still apply.
The site address and dig locations, marked on a plan or photo. Underground service plans, locating results and any asset-owner conditions. The task, with the sizes and depths you need. Photos showing access and where the truck can park. When the work is needed.
The operator controls the water pressure and the vacuum hose at the dig, so soil can be removed carefully around a service rather than scooped out in one go.
The truck loosens the soil and vacuums it into its tank in the same operation, which can reduce hand digging and clean-up. Whether that saves time or money depends on the site.
Vacuum excavation suits digging near buried services and in tight spots where a machine bucket is a poor fit. The Sydney team can talk through whether it suits your job, along with hourly rates and an estimate.
Here are some of the key applications we specialise in:
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Slot Trenching is the process of creating precise, narrow trenches for the installation of pipes, cables, or other underground utilities. By utilising vacuum excavation, the trench can be dug in a more controlled way than with a mechanical bucket, which lowers the risk of striking nearby services.
A pilot hole is a small bore created to allow for the accurate placement of pipes. Using vacuum excavation for pilot holes suits work near sensitive infrastructure, because the soil is removed in a controlled way that lowers the risk of damaging nearby services.
Potholing is much safer with vacuum excavation, because the soil around the service is broken up with water and lifted out by suction instead of being dug with a bucket. The hole stays clear of spoil, so the service can be seen and identified.
Vacuum excavation can dig neat holes for poles and signs near buried services, with the spoil loaded straight into the truck. Whether it's quicker or cheaper than other methods depends on the ground, the number of holes and access.
Although vacuum excavation is mainly known for digging, the same pressurised water and suction can help clear debris and build-up from some pipes and tanks. Tell the team what's inside and how the truck reaches it, and ask whether hot water is available if your job needs it.