Teresa Madaleno

Hydro excavation or Hydrovacs are not new but they are much improved. They have come a long way since the first hydrovac machine was built back in 1969. Today, hydrovacs have improved designs, are much more efficient, and are safer.

Hydro Excavation is the removal of soil with pressurized water. A powerful vacuum then transfers any soil and debris to a special tank. Essentially, the hydrovac allows for non-destructive, environment-friendly excavation. It is a system that can accurately detect underground utilities, thus removing the risk of damaging systems that include pipes and cables.

Hydrovac trucks are now used for multiple jobs, including plumbing projects, such as pipeline and sewer work; municipal and city installations like light posts and street signs; construction work, including commercial, industrial, and residential homes; and large landscaping projects. In all these cases, the hydrovac offers a faster and less expensive method for digging. A lot of Sparta’s ReECO Tech division revenue growth in the first quarter of 2018 can be attributed to demand for hydro-excavation services.

Protecting the original environment and preserving underground utilities, pipelines and other infrastructure is a key benefit to using a hydrovac over traditional excavators and shovels, but there is another reason to choose it – hydrovac is a lot safer for workers. Manual excavation, such as shovelling, puts workers in a position where risk of injury is higher. Heat exhaustion and frostbite are common among laborers who use older, manual forms of excavating. Since hydrovac operators are jetting pressurized water and directing a vacuum hose, hydrovacs improve safety. Additionally, hydrovac trucks can be stationed a considerable distance from the actual work site, thus preserving the site and creating a safer environment for workers.

Sparta’s ReECO Tech division takes safety to heart. In fact, ReECO hydrovac crews receive rigorous safety training.