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Hydrovac Excavation Services in Columbus & Central Ohio

Hydro excavation and hydrovac excavation for utility potholing, utility daylighting, trenching, HDD support and safe utility exposure across Columbus and Ohio. Powered by American Boring with 30+ years of underground experience.

Daylighting & Potholing
Max Depth
12 ft
Boom Reach
28 ft
01

Daylighting & Potholing

Expose buried utilities without risk of strike.

Method: Pressurized water + vacuum
Slot Trenching
Width Range
4–18 in
Max Depth
12 ft
02

Slot Trenching

Narrow 4–18" non-destructive trenches for conduit, cable and pipe.

Water Pressure: Up to 3,000 PSIVacuum Flow: Up to 5,000 CFMSoil Types: Clay, rock, compacted fill, frozenBackfill: Minimal — slot-width cutMethod: Water + vacuum, non-mechanical
Sewer & Waterline Excavation
Max Depth
12 ft
Hose Reach
200+ ft
03

Sewer & Waterline Excavation

Non-destructive exposure for buried water and sewer lines.

Method: Water + vacuum
Pole Holes
Diameter
Up to 36 in
Max Depth
12 ft
04

Pole Holes

Clean, precise pole-hole excavation for utilities and signage.

Soil: Clay, rock, frozen
General Excavation
Max Depth
15 ft
Debris Tank
12 yd³
05

General Excavation

Non-destructive digging for any jobsite need.

Method: Water + vacuum
HDD Support
Pit Depth
10 ft
Mud Handling
Full haul-off
06

HDD Support

Entry/exit pits, mud handling & utility spotting for directional drilling.

Coverage: Utility spotting + bore path verification
Remote-Hose Excavation
Hose Reach
300 ft
Access
Confined space
07

Remote-Hose Excavation

Reach tight access areas the truck can't.

Power: Remote vacuum
Debris Removal & Spoils Haul-Off
Debris Tank
12 yd³
Water Tank
1,200–1,500 gal
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Debris Removal & Spoils Haul-Off

12 yd³ debris tanks + high-CFM vacuum slurry haul-off.

Vacuum Flow: Up to 5,000 CFMHaul-Off: Single-trip, sealed tankMaterials: Soil, slurry, drilling mudDisposal: EPA-compliant non-hazardousSite Restoration: Included
Electrical Substation Excavation & Trenching
Max Depth
12 ft
Boom Reach
26 ft
09

Electrical Substation Excavation & Trenching

Safe, precise digging inside live substations.

Method: Water + vacuum
Cold-Weather Excavation
Water Temp
180°F+
Ground
Frozen solid
010

Cold-Weather Excavation

Cut through frozen ground all winter.

Season: Year-round
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Service Breakdown

The full technical detail behind each capability.

01

Daylighting & Potholing

We use pressurized water to precisely expose underground utilities — gas, electric, fiber, water — so crews can verify depth and location before any mechanical digging begins. Non-destructive, OSHA-compliant, and fast.

Max Depth:12 ft
Boom Reach:28 ft
Method:Pressurized water + vacuum
02

Slot Trenching

Hydrovac slot trenching carves precise, narrow trenches — from 4 inches up to 18 inches wide and down to 12 feet deep — through Ohio clay, compacted fill, rocky soil and frozen ground without damaging adjacent utilities. Pressurized water (up to 3,000 PSI) cuts the soil while the high-flow vacuum (up to 5,000 CFM) simultaneously evacuates the slurry, so the cut stays clean, plumb and minimal-width. The result is far less backfill, smaller surface disturbance, and zero risk of mechanical strike on buried gas, electric, fiber or water lines. Ideal for conduit and cable runs, small-diameter pipe installation, cross-road utility trenches, and under-bore verification slots where a clean, OSHA-compliant cut keeps the schedule — and the surrounding infrastructure — intact.

Width Range:4–18 in
Max Depth:12 ft
Water Pressure:Up to 3,000 PSI
Vacuum Flow:Up to 5,000 CFM
Soil Types:Clay, rock, compacted fill, frozen
Backfill:Minimal — slot-width cut
Method:Water + vacuum, non-mechanical
03

Sewer & Waterline Excavation

We safely expose buried sewer and water lines for repair, replacement, and new installation — using pressurized water and vacuum to clear soil without striking the very utilities we're working around. Reduces shut-downs and keeps municipal and residential systems running.

Max Depth:12 ft
Hose Reach:200+ ft
Method:Water + vacuum
04

Pole Holes

We dig pole holes for utility poles, lighting, signage, and traffic signals — even in tight ROWs and frozen ground. Hydrovac excavation keeps the bore plumb and clean, avoids adjacent utilities, and leaves a ready-to-set hole with minimal surface disturbance.

Diameter:Up to 36 in
Max Depth:12 ft
Soil:Clay, rock, frozen
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General Excavation

From foundation potholing to spot excavation and site clearance, our hydrovac trucks handle general digging tasks with surgical precision — no mechanical strikes, no shattered utilities, and a clean spoils haul-off that leaves your site ready to work.

Max Depth:15 ft
Debris Tank:12 yd³
Method:Water + vacuum
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HDD Support

We support horizontal directional drilling crews by excavating clean entry and exit pits, managing drilling mud and slurry, and spotting existing utilities along the bore path so your drill stays on track and strike-free.

Pit Depth:10 ft
Mud Handling:Full haul-off
Coverage:Utility spotting + bore path verification
07

Remote-Hose Excavation

When the truck can't get close, our remote-hose systems extend up to hundreds of feet to excavate inside buildings, around equipment, and in confined spaces — keeping your site productive and safe.

Hose Reach:300 ft
Access:Confined space
Power:Remote vacuum
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Debris Removal & Spoils Haul-Off

Our hydrovac trucks carry 12-cubic-yard debris tanks and 1,200–1,500 gallon water systems, so a single truck can excavate, collect and haul excavated soil, drilling mud and slurry off-site in one trip — no separate vacuum truck or disposal run required. The high-flow vacuum (up to 5,000 CFM) pulls wet spoils and slurry directly from the cut into the sealed debris tank, keeping the work area clean and eliminating double-handling. We handle full clean-up, EPA-compliant disposal of non-hazardous spoils and drilling mud, and final site restoration so you're left with a ready-to-work jobsite. Ideal for HDD mud management, utility excavation spoils, catch-basin clean-outs and post-excavation site cleanup across Columbus and Central Ohio.

Debris Tank:12 yd³
Water Tank:1,200–1,500 gal
Vacuum Flow:Up to 5,000 CFM
Haul-Off:Single-trip, sealed tank
Materials:Soil, slurry, drilling mud
Disposal:EPA-compliant non-hazardous
Site Restoration:Included
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Electrical Substation Excavation & Trenching

We excavate and trench inside active electrical substations using pressurized water and vacuum — exposing conduit, cable trenches, and grid components without risk of mechanical strike on energized equipment. Non-destructive, controlled, and fully compliant with substation access protocols.

Max Depth:12 ft
Boom Reach:26 ft
Method:Water + vacuum
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Cold-Weather Excavation

Heated water systems let us hydrovac through frozen Ohio ground when traditional digging is impossible. We keep your project on schedule through the coldest months without sacrificing precision or safety.

Water Temp:180°F+
Ground:Frozen solid
Season:Year-round
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Frequently Asked Questions

Straight answers on safety, response times, and how we run a hydrovac job.

Need a specific service?

Tell us about your jobsite and we'll match the right truck and crew.