Hydro Excavation

A safe, effective and EPA-licensed alternative to conventional digging, known as hydro excavation or non-destructive digging.

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Australia’s leading hydro excavation service

Hydro excavation is a safe, cost-effective and non-destructive digging method used for locating underground services where the area is unknown. This applies in areas where the assets have not been identified on site plans or where the risk of damage is high.

Cleanaway offers quick and effective hydro excavation services to fit your business needs and urgency. Our hydrovac, also known as non-destructive digging service, uses either a combo unit or a standard vacuum truck with a trailer-mounted high pressure water unit depending on the job size. Due to its non-mechanical ground entry, the hydrovac requires no digging permit and can be deployed relatively quickly.

Hydro excavation presents several clear advantages over other digging methods like jackhammers, drills and excavators such as:

  • The depth, speed and digging area are more easily controlled
  • No digging permit required as it utilises a non-mechanical ground entry
  • Can be deployed in hours
  • Reduces damage risk to underground assets such as cables and other site services
  • Can be done 30 to 50 meters away from the roadside or access areas

Cleanaway’s hydro excavation services are commonly used in a wide variety of industries in both remote areas and metro locations. Our industrial digging services are regularly employed for government projects, municipal councils, construction, rail network and telecommunication industries for:

  • Network remediation work
  • New pit and pole installations
  • Identification of underground services, such as water pipes and sewerage, telecommunication cables and power cables

Unlike traditional digging methods such as hand digging, hydro vacuum excavations are much faster and more effective, taking minutes compared to hours using traditional methods. Hydrovac excavation services are also safer and much more accurate as the digging speed, depth and area can be controlled much more easily, reducing the risk of damaging other assets.

Post hole digging

Cleanaway’s hydro vacuum excavation services can also be used to create holes for utility pole insertions. Poles created may be friction piles or end-bearing piles, depending on the need.

Trench excavation/sump and drainage sinkage

Cleanaway also utilises hydro excavation for trench excavation and sump and drainage sinkage. The ground area where pipe work, cables or drainage sumps and systems are removed by utilising water and vacuum instead of manual and automated digging machines.

Our hydro excavation process

The water is used to loosen the soil on the target surface while a vacuum sucks up all the soil and other debris. This allows us to dig and create a deep hole without leaving lasting damage on the environment.

Water blasting
Loosening of soil
Sludge removal
Treatment and recovery

Key customers

Construction and engineering

Easy removal of loose debris and powders to prepare surfaces.

Telecommunications

Locate underground assets easily and safely.

Why choose Cleanaway

Specialist fleet and experienced experts

Our non-destructive services are delivered by expert personnel and supported by a network of state-of-the-art assets.

Maximised resource recovery

We make sure that related waste is collected, disposed of, recovered and recycled wherever possible.

Tailored to your business needs

We understand your requirements and challenges, working together to develop tailored solutions to increase efficiencies, reduce downtime and costs.

Total waste management solutions

We provide a suite of services and solutions that can help improve the efficiency and quality of site operations.

More solutions for Industrial Construction Services

Fully compliant and safe industrial services, equipment and solutions for the construction, mining, and manufacturing sectors including roadworks, surface reparations and the management of related waste.
Interested in a Cleanaway service?

Contact us directly on 13 13 39 or fill up one of these short forms. We will get back to you as soon as possible with your request or booking.

Find your nearest Cleanaway team

We are in every major city and region in Australia. Chances are you will find us not too far away from where you are. We’re in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Karratha, Rockhampton, Newcastle, Geelong, Port Augusta, Albury, and more.