If you’re planning utility installs, daylighting, pole holes, or trenching in the Lower Mainland, the excavation method you choose sets the tone for safety, timelines, and cost. Hydrovac and mechanical digging both remove soil, but they’re very different in risk profile and precision.
Key insights
Hydrovac uses pressurised water and vacuum to expose utilities with precision and minimal surface impact.
Mechanical digging (backhoe, mini-ex) is faster on open, utility-free areas but carries a higher strike risk.
Use hydrovac near gas, power, fibre, and unknown locates, tight corridors, and busy streets.
Use mechanical equipment for bulk earthworks away from buried services.
A quick site assessment prevents delays, strikes, and rework.
What is hydrovac excavation?
Hydrovac uses a water lance to liquefy soil while a high-vacuum boom removes spoil into a sealed debris tank. It’s precise, keeps utility coatings intact, and works in tight, low-impact setups like boulevards, laneways, and urban sidewalks.
Best for:
Daylighting and utility locating
Pole holes and sign bases
Slot trenching for shallow utilities
Work near roots, foundations, or fragile surfaces
Busy corridors with limited laydown space
Benefits:
Lower risk of line strikes
Accurate hole dimensions and clean spoil control
Minimal surface disruption and faster reinstatement
Safer around aging or undocumented infrastructure
Limitations:
Slower than bulk mechanical trenching
Requires water supply and vacuum access
Not intended for mass excavation
What is mechanical excavation?
Mechanical uses buckets or augers to remove large volumes quickly. It’s efficient on greenfields and utility-clear zones.
Best for:
Bulk earthmoving
Deep trenches in open sites
Areas with confirmed, well-mapped utility corridors
Benefits:
High production rates in open ground
Fewer support resources on simple digs
Limitations:
Higher damage risk near live services
Larger work footprint and restoration scope
Less precise around sensitive structures
Quick chooser table
Feature
Hydrovac Excavation
Mechanical Digging
Primary goal
Precision near utilities
Bulk soil removal
Risk of strikes
Very low
Moderate to high near services
Footprint
Small
Larger
Best use case
Urban corridors, locates, pole holes
Open sites, bulk trenches
Surface impact
Minimal
Higher, more restoration
Action plan (before you dig)
Confirm locates and as-builts.
Mark conflict zones and no-go areas.
Select hydrovac for all utility crossings and tight work.
Use mechanical only where the corridor is clear.
Stage traffic control and spoil management.
FAQs
Is hydrovac required by law near utilities? Not always, but many owners and municipalities specify hydrovac for exposing buried plant before mechanical work.
Can hydrovac work in rain or on night shifts? Yes. Crews frequently run in wet conditions and off-peak hours to reduce traffic impacts.
What happens to the slurry? Spoil is vacuumed into the truck and hauled to approved disposal sites per municipal rules.
Ready for a safe dig? Speak with Lo-Vac’s hydrovac team for a quick scope and schedule: (604) 805-SUCK (7825).
Waste to Energy A Guide to Sustainable Waste Management
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Lo‑Vac Solutions specializes in safe hydrovac excavation, parkade drain cleaning, and vacuum truck waste removal. We deliver efficient, environmentally responsible solutions for property managers, municipalities, and contractors across the Lower Mainland.
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