Hydro vs Air Excavation…Which can provide a safer alternative for your industry?

1. Vacuum excavation is defined as a means of soil extraction using a vacuum to break apart material with pressurized water or air. The method of excavation is commonly referred to as soft excavation technology and commonly accepted as being the equivalent or safer than hand digging within the tolerance zone around underground facilities. Vacuum Excavation is a non-mechanical, non-destructive way of safely exposing buried utilities. This process allows for workers on site to stay safe on the surface. This eliminates accidental line damage and trench cave-ins. Physically locating is the only true method of identifying the accurate depth of a utility. Safer digging in Hydro Excavation Hydro vacuum excavation uses water to loosen the soil and dig a hole. The use of water helps reduce the soil’s holding strength thus helping to break the soil and suction easily out of the hole. The method applies a vacuum mechanism to remove wet and muddy excavated material. When excavating frozen ground, hot water can be used to thaw and cut through the frozen ground. The vacuum lifts the loose soil from the site and carries the debris into the tank. Below are the top four reasons to use hydro excavation at your site: Less invasive in nature when compared to other traditional methods of excavating Higher precision, leading to lesser disposal of materials and accordingly much less restoration Uses less manpower when compared to conventional digging Dirt is stored in the debris tank keeping the area clean which leads to minimal disruption in traffic and without damage to power lines

2. Hydro excavation will allow for a safer extraction saving the company and client money as there is less chance of damage to the excavation site. Air excavation – How it helps infrastructure As mentioned prior, air vacuum excavation helps loosen dirt and soil through the use of compressed air and then vacuuming the material up into a tank. This process has several advantages over traditional digging; below are the top 8 benefits to vacuum excavation and exposing a utility. No damage to the utility No mechanical moving parts touch the utility Can be used on all utilities (gas, water, thermal distributions systems, power, etc.) Small hole: 12″ x 12″ typical Less disruption and cleaner work sites No unnecessary traffic congestion Easy Patch – both permanent and temporary Highly cost effective Air creates dry spoils to return to the hole Air is in endless without refilling Vacuum tests can also be very effective for companies because this will help workers in the planning stage of a project; information is obtained that can be used in the design and planning of the proper way to excavate the site. Additional advantages to using a vacuum test for utility verification are as follows:

3. Reduces the surprises and associated costs and delays at the construction stage when latent subsurface conditions are encountered. Utilities in conflict with the proposed new installation can be moved and placed in service before construction begins This gives the client peace of mind with an accurate estimation on the cost and rules out the opportunity for damage to occur. The Right Unit for the Right Job There are dozens of different wet and dry uses for each industry and knowing the proper machine to use is half the battle in excavation. Vac-Tron provides options for numerous industries, including: water-boring contractors, utility companies, wastewater, and military installations, just to name a few. Below show the following industries associated with the proper machine to get the job done right the first time with Vac-Tron equipment. Private contractors, utilities, and public work users – The Vac-Tron Industrial Vacuum equipment makes wet/dry material easy to move and efficient. The Vac-Tron LP and Mini Combo series are great at cleaning out treatments plants, underground switch boxes, and minimizing the damage to utility lines. Underground utilities– Vac-Tron’s Low Profile Series works best using hydro excavation to lubricate the soils making it easier to break apart and reduce damage.