About
Safe, non-destructive
digging for all site conditions
Dig through soil in minutes, not hours, with Cleanaway’s hydro excavation services – the faster, safer and more sustainable alternative to mechanical digging.
Hydro excavation, also known as non-destructive digging (NDD), combines pressurised water with a high-powered vacuum system to break up and remove soil. The pressure mimics the effect of mechanical digging, but because the water is focused on the target, it doesn’t impact the surrounding area. It’s this control and precision that makes hydro excavation the safest way to expose underground assets and dig around critical infrastructure like pipes and cables without causing damage.
Supported by a fleet of purpose-built vacuum excavation units and a team of trained operators, Cleanaway delivers fast, compliant and environmentally-friendly hydro excavation services across Australia.Soil and slurry waste
Hydro excavation produces a slurry of loosened soil and water from potholing, trenching and utility locating. This slurry can include clay, sand, gravel and organic matter that requires safe collection and transport.
Contaminated excavation spoil
In industrial and urban settings, excavation may release contaminated soils containing hydrocarbons, asbestos-containing debris, PFAS or other regulated substances. These wastes require specialist handling and traceability.
Expertise
Versatile industrial digging solutions
Hydro excavation is a safe, quiet and controlled method for digging, trenching and locating infrastructure beneath the surface, making it well-suited to a range of applications. This includes:
Expose underground services like gas, water, sewer and telecommunications lines without damaging them
Expose or clear blocked infrastructure safely
Dig near vegetation without damaging roots
Service
Who we work with
Cleanaway’s hydro excavation services are ideal for jobs where conventional digging could put people, assets or the environment at risk. Our services are trusted by:
Civil construction and infrastructure developers
Energy, water and gas utilities
Telecommunications and electrical providers
Local councils and government departments
Rail and road infrastructure projects
Mining, heavy industry and logistics
Educational, commercial and healthcare facilities
Details
Benefits of hydro excavation
Hydro excavation offers several advantages over mechanical digging tools like jackhammers, drills and excavators:
Reduced risk
Digging speed, depth and area can be controlled more easily, minimising the risk of damaging pipes, cables and utilities beneath the surface
Environmentally safer
Reduces ground disturbance and prevents contamination, with the slurry reused as backfill where possible to reduce waste
Better precision
The greater accuracy of hydro excavation makes it ideal for confined spaces, sensitive sites and live facilities
Cost efficiency
Non-destructive digging works faster and generates less mess to clean up, reducing time on the job and project costs
Process
How Cleanaway’s hydro excavation services work
Our hydro excavation services are compliant with all industry and environmental standards, ensuring safety and sustainability is built into every stage of the process.
We work with you to understand your site conditions and safety needs.
A Cleanaway vacuum excavation unit arrives onsite with trained operators.
High-pressure water is used to loosen and break up soil.
Dislodged soil and debris is sucked up with a powerful vacuum hose and stored in the hydro vac tank.
Once repairs or construction are complete, the collected soil slurry can be returned to the hole, or if contaminated, disposed of at EPA-licensed facilities.
Details
Equipment and fleet
Cleanaway operates a national fleet of industrial-grade hydro excavation trucks that are equipped to handle any digging or trenching job.
Vehicle and equipment features:
Combination high-pressure water jetting and vacuum loading units
Onboard spoil tanks for liquid or slurry collection
Hoses with high water pressure ratings for hard ground, and adjustable pressure controls to protect underground assets
Remote or confined-space capable equipment
Compliant with site access and safety requirements
Output
What happens to waste
The soil slurry generated during hydro excavation is stored in sealed tanks and either returned as backfill if uncontaminated, or processed through Cleanaway’s facilities if unsuitable for reuse. This approach reduces waste and keeps worksites clean and safe.
Where excavation uncovers contaminated spoil such as hydrocarbons, asbestos-impacted material or PFAS-affected soils, these are transported to EPA-licensed facilities for treatment or secure disposal. Full documentation ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.
Our promise
Why choose Cleanaway
A one-stop solution
We offer an expansive range of services, custom waste solutions and expert support to meet the waste management and resource recovery needs of Australian businesses, councils and industries of any size.
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Optimised waste management solutions
Our team of resource recovery professionals work closely with you to find the best waste management solution for your business, helping you achieve potential cost savings while working towards your sustainability goals.
Market-leading infrastructure
Our licensed, state-of-the-art facilities enable safe, efficient waste processing and resource recovery at scale.
Making a sustainable future possible together
We’re leading the way in sustainable waste management and resource recovery, helping Australia to transition to a circular economy and investing in lasting solutions for the benefit of Australians – now and into the future.