Locate,Inspect, Survey & Mitigate Risk

Utility locating uses radio waves above surface to give a presumed location of a buried utility without disturbing the ground's surface. Vacuum Excavation is disturbing the ground in a non destructive way to expose utility lines and prove that it's there, proving the exaction location and depth of that utility. Utility locating does not prove the location of the utility. So if someone is digging near an existing utility that has been marked by locating, it is the responsibility of the person doing the digging to verify daylight or prove the location of the marked utility.

Daylighting means that something underground needs to be exposed so you can see it. It's literally shedding light into what's below.

Both involve using jets of air or water to break up soil and ground fill that is then sucked up to clear the area. There is no clear or right answer about which is better. It depends on multiple factors about the type of job, work conditions and goals, as well as some specifics about the site. With centuries of experience, an MPL Project Manager can speak with you to asses the job site conditions and what is best for that project. Many contractors prefer hydro excavating because it can move more material faster. While this is usually true for the excavating phase of the job, it's not always true for refilling the site. If the project requires exposing a utility line, fixing it, then backfilling the material in a short amount of time, hydro isn't the best option. Air excavation may be slower for removing the material, but it can save time overall. It's important to consider the time and resources needed to transport and dump heavy, muddy soil and then to bring in new soil for backfill.

• Jet Rodders: Jet Rodding uses a precision water nozzle on a high-pressure hose, where water is jetted to efficiently clean and remove mud, slush, debris, and soil. Some jet rodders have the power to cut through wood and tree roots, making them extremely handy for clearing stormwater pipes and undertaking non-destructive digging in tree-heavy areas.
• Vacuum Truck/Tanker: A vacuum truck or vacuum tanker is a truck that has a pump and a tank. The pump is designed to suck liquids, sludges, slurries from a location into the tank of the truck through suction lines.
• Sucker Trailers: Sucker trailers are smaller, and use a powerful vacuum to remove heavy debris and materials from a hole or on land. These trailers work the same as the larger vacuum truck, by loading solids, liquids, sludge or slurry. They can be mounted either directly onto a truck with the vacuum drive powered by the truck motor, or with an independent motor.
• Hydro Excavation: Uses a powerful water jet lance instead of a compressed air lance to help disperse and break apart the ground to expose subsurface utilities. Basically, it's a high-pressure water spray combined with an industrial size vacuum. The liquid waste is then sucked up into the truck and typically processed at a soil transfer or disposal plant. Hydro excavation has become an increasingly popular option for non-destructive digging.

• Air vs Hydro Excavation - the difference: Air vacuum excavation is recommended for utility test holes or single excavations involving around 1 cubic yard per excavation. Hydro vacuum excavation is used for larger excavations because it is more productive, especially in difficult, compact soil conditions.

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