Vacuum Excavation, also known as "Potholing" or "Daylighting" is the process of using vacuum and sometimes an assisting process such as high pressure water jetting and high velocity air jetting to “suck” a hole in the ground.  The hole size can be from 4 to 12 inches in diameter and can be from 1 to 20 feet deep.   This process replaces manual or machine digging when there is the possibility of damage to anything in the underground vicinity of the area being uncovered.

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With the number of utilities being run underground and the use of plastic pipe and conduit instead of heavier steel the risk of damage once a line is found by either a shovel or a backhoe is greatly increased.  Vacuum excavation greatly reduces this risk and is referred to as a “non-destructive” digging method. Once on top of a line or cable the vacuum tube simply cannot continue down and the line being sought is safely found.  This process is being used by gas companies, water and wastewater utilities, telephone companies, and underground contractors doing work for all of the above.