Before initiating any excavation project, it is necessary for the crew members to precisely pinpoint the location of existing utilities. Locating and exposing these utility lines is essential to ensure that no potential risk is involved during the construction process.
With so many underground electrical cables, gas pipelines, and other utilities, blindly digging up the ground with a shovel or a backhoe can prove to be disastrous. For example, one small mistake can lead to loss of lives, severe injuries, costly repairs, delays in the project’s timeline, and much more.
However, thanks to potholing technology, workers don’t have to go in blind anymore. They can now locate utilities using this simple yet effective technology. Read this blog to know more about utility potholing and what potholing techniques you can use to best tackle your excavation projects.
What Is Utility Potholing?
Utility potholing, sometimes also referred to as daylighting, is a process of digging up a series of small test holes to locate and expose existing utility lines as accurately and precisely as possible. It is primarily an investigative construction technique and is used to gain onsite confirmation of the location of various underground utilities and other structures that may be present in the proposed construction zone.
Potholing can tell workers a lot about utility lines, including:
- Their horizontal and vertical location
- Their depth
- Type of line
- Or, if there are any signs of damage to the lines
More and more people are now using potholing in their excavation processes. It helps decrease their chances of hitting water, electrical, gas, telecommunication, and fiber-optic lines. Preventing damage to these lines means a smoother project that stays within budget and on schedule.
Potholing is also an effective technique for applications requiring drilling holes, such as installing signage, placing telephone or utility polls, posting fences, and more. Contractors may also use it to repair and inspect existing lines.
Which Method Is Right For Your Project?
Contractors can carry out potholing in various ways depending on the client’s project requirements, budget, and the risks associated with the intended work. The three primary methods of potholing that are implemented in the construction industry today include:
- Hand Digging
- Backhoes
- Hydrovac Excavation
Hand Digging
This method of potholing uses shovels and digging bars to uncover and excavate underground utilities manually. Although this method is the least costly and is mostly accurate, it can be incredibly time-consuming and labor-intensive.
Hand digging is generally a safe method of potholing and is unlikely to rupture underground pipelines or cables. However, caution should be taken when digging near fiber options and electrical lines. This method is suitable for applications where working space is limited.
Backhoes
Digging with backhoes is a faster yet inefficient and imprecise potholing method. Excavating with a backhoe can lead to damage to underground utilities, and due to the lack of precision of this method, it is used in applications where the probability of utility interference is low such as in new housing development projects.
Due to the backhoes size and bulky nature, they are not suitable in applications where there is limited space.
Hydrovac Excavation
This potholing method is efficient, precise, cost-effective, and requires less labor than the other two techniques. In this method, a high-pressure stream of water is used to loosen up the soil. The mud slurry formed as a result is then vacuumed to a spoil tank mounting on a hydrovac truck. From here, the waste is taken away to a designated dump location.
Potholing with a hydrovac prevents damage to the utilities and provides a safer working environment. It can precisely locate and expose all kinds of underground utilities.
At Ghost Hydrovac, we provide professional potholing and directional drilling using the hydrovac technique. For more information about our services, visit our website, or contact us here today.