Utility Locating
Physically verify underground utilities — not just mark them.
What It Is
Electronic locating tells you approximately where a utility is. Physical utility locating — hydrovac potholing — proves exactly where it is. ABI Hydrovac provides ground-truth verification that keeps your project safe and your records accurate.
Based in Carroll near Columbus, ABI Hydrovac serves contractors and utilities throughout Central Ohio. Powered by American Boring, our team brings 30+ years of underground construction experience to each project.
Before directional drilling, trenching, or excavation, contractors rely on locate marks. But electronic marks have tolerances and can be wrong. Hydrovac potholing physically exposes the utility at critical points to confirm depth and position before ground is broken.
ABI crews work alongside locate technicians, drilling crews, and project engineers to verify the utilities that matter most — at crossings, bends, and high-traffic points where a strike would be catastrophic.
Key Benefits
Why contractors choose hydrovac for this application.
Ground Truth
Physical confirmation beats estimated locate marks every time.
Risk Reduction
Cuts strike risk at the highest-risk points on your route.
Crossing Verification
Confirms clearances at utility crossings and bore paths.
Documented
Verified depths and positions for your as-built records.
The Process
How we deliver this service from call to clean site.
Identify Critical Points
We target crossings, bends, and high-risk locations along your route.
Expose
Hydrovac potholes physically reveal each utility.
Record
Depth and position are documented for your records.
Clear to Dig
Your crew proceeds with confidence at verified points.
Common Questions
Is this the same as calling 811?
No — 811 marks utilities electronically. We physically expose them for verification.
When should I order physical locating?
Before any bore, HDD crossing, or excavation near known or suspected utilities.
Do you coordinate with locate technicians?
Yes — we work alongside locating crews and project teams.
Related Services
Ready for utility locating?
Call dispatch or request a quote — we answer 24/7.