What Is Hydro-Excavation?

Hydro-excavation is a safe, non-destructive method of digging that uses high-pressure water and a powerful vacuum system to break up soil and remove it into a debris tank. Instead of using traditional mechanical equipment like backhoes or excavators, hydro-excavation uses water to loosen the ground, making it one of the safest ways to expose underground utilities and complete precision digging.

Why Hydro-Excavation Is Better

Safe for Utilities
Water eliminates the risk of cutting or damaging buried gas lines, electrical conduits, fiber-optic cables, water lines, and other utilities.

More Precise Digging
Hydrovacs can dig small, targeted holes or trenches with incredible accuracy, reducing cleanup and minimizing restoration work.

Ideal for Any Soil Conditions
Whether the ground is rocky, frozen, or compact, hydro-excavation cuts through it efficiently without causing structural damage.

Less Impact on the Jobsite
Because the process is controlled and clean, surrounding landscaping, pavement, and structures stay protected.

Common Uses for Hydro-Excavation

Potholing / Utility Locating – Safely exposing buried utilities to verify depth and location.

Trenching for Utilities – Creating narrow trenches for conduit, electrical, gas, or water lines.

Culvert & Storm Drain Cleaning – Removing mud, sediment, and debris.

Under-Footer Excavation – Digging under foundations or structures without risk of collapse.

Septic Tank Exposure – Clean, precise digging to access lids and components.

Fence & Sign Post Holes – Fast, accurate hole excavation without oversizing.

Cattle Guard Cleanout - Effective method to clean out cattle guards quickly.

Proper drainage is essential for protecting roads, driveways, parking lots, and property from flooding. Over time, culverts and storm drains can become clogged with mud, sediment, roots, and debris, restricting water flow and creating costly hazards.

At Desert Hydrovac, we provide reliable, thorough culvert and storm drain cleaning using our powerful hydrovac equipment. This method allows us to remove buildup safely and efficiently without damaging the pipe or surrounding ground.

Why Culvert & Drain Cleaning Matters

Blocked culverts can lead to:

Flooded yards, driveways, and roadways

Erosion and washouts

Infrastructure damage

Costly repairs and environmental impact

Regular cleaning keeps water moving where it’s supposed to and prevents problems before they start.

What We Do

✔️ Remove sediment, rocks, and debris

✔️ Clear blockages caused by roots or compacted material

✔️ Restore proper water flow

✔️ Inspect for damage, collapse, or restricted areas

✔️ Service residential, commercial, municipal, and rural properties

Whether it’s a single driveway culvert or a large storm drain system, Desert Hydrovac has the equipment and expertise to get it flowing again quickly and safely.

Keep your drainage system working — and protect your property from flooding.
Contact us today to schedule culvert or storm drain cleaning.

Tank Cleaning Services

Over time, water storage tanks naturally accumulate sand, sediment, and debris—especially when supplied by a well. This buildup can reduce water quality, decrease storage capacity, and put unnecessary strain on pumps and plumbing systems.

At Desert Hydrovac, we provide safe, thorough water tank cleaning services for residential, commercial, agricultural, and industrial tanks as well as non-hazardous waste water tanks. Using our hydrovac equipment, we can remove sediment and buildup without damaging the tank and without the mess or downtime of traditional cleaning methods.

Our Tank Cleaning Process

✔️ Drain and safely access the tank

✔️ Remove sand, sludge, and sediment with hydrovac suction

✔️ Clean interior surfaces for improved water quality

✔️ Inspect for cracks, corrosion, and structural issues

✔️ Leave the tank clean, clear, and ready for refill

Whether you rely on your tank for drinking water, irrigation, livestock, or fire protection, regular cleaning helps keep your system running efficiently and protects your investment.

Desert Hydrovac — clean tanks, clean water, done right.
Contact us today to schedule a tank cleaning or request a quote.

Before any digging project begins, it’s critical to know exactly what’s underground. Desert Hydrovac provides accurate and reliable private utility locating services for residential, commercial, and industrial job sites throughout Yavapai County and surrounding areas.

Unlike 811, which only marks public utilities, we locate privately owned lines that are not covered by the utility companies. These can include:

Electrical lines

Water and irrigation lines

Sewer and septic laterals

Gas lines

Communication and fiber-optic lines

Conduit runs to outbuildings or equipment

Any customer-installed underground utilities with tracer wire

We use professional locating equipment to identify and mark underground utilities so you can dig safely, avoid costly damage, and keep your job on schedule. Whether you’re excavating, trenching, fencing, installing conduit, or preparing for construction, our team helps ensure you know what’s below before you break ground.

Fast response times, accurate locating, and local expertise you can trust. If your project requires private utility locating, Desert Hydrovac is ready to help.

Proper conduit proofing is essential to ensure new electrical installations are safe, functional, and meet utility requirements. At Desert Hydrovac, we provide professional primary and secondary conduit proofing for residential, commercial, and utility projects throughout Yavapai County.

APS requires all newly installed primary and secondary conduit systems to be proofed before they can be energized. Our team is qualified and equipped to safely open, inspect, and proof conduits connected to energized equipment, giving contractors and property owners peace of mind that everything is installed correctly.

Using specialized equipment, we verify:

✔️ Conduit is free of blockages and debris

✔️ Pull strings or mule tape are intact and usable

✔️ System is ready for wire pull and energization

We understand that proofing often needs to be done quickly to keep a project on schedule. Desert Hydrovac typically responds and completes conduit proofing within 1–2 business days, helping you avoid costly delays.

Fast, reliable, utility-compliant conduit proofing — done right the first time.
Contact us today to schedule service or request a quote.