Non Destructive Digging (NDD)

We utilise the latest hydro excavation equipment when performing non-destructive digging (NDD) around buried services, efficiently eliminating the risk of damage.

More and more so, underground boring is moving towards non destructive digging with the use of hydro excavation and vacuum trucks. Hydro trenching method allows us to bore holes and dig trenches around services in an efficient and safe way, eliminating the risk of damage to conduits and the environment.

WHAT IS NON DESTRUCTIVE DIGGING?

Often referred to as ‘hydro excavation’ or ‘vacuum excavation’, non destructive digging is the process of breaking up soil and clay with high pressure water to remove soil and debris around previously laid conduits. This efficient alternative to traditional excavation trenching uses highly pressured water through a hose to cut through most soil conditions, and an industrial vacuum to suck up the slurry. Hydro trenching is a fast operating technology to safely and efficiently expose underground utilities as an alternative underground solution.

No matter the type of excavation best suited to your project, a key focus is to reduce the possibility of damage to current underground services. Non destructive digging is the favoured choice for this very reason. Unlike augers and trenchers, hydro excavation is the only non destructive excavation process, practically eliminating the possibility of any damage to underground pipes, cables and conduits as the pressurised water used only loosens and remove soil.

Non destructive digging in progress
Non destructive digging in progress, using a vacuum connected to a sucker truck

Why Total Underground Solutions?

Total Underground Solutions have built one of the most experienced underground digging teams in Melbourne, who are highly skilled and qualified to use non-destructive digging in conjunction with horizontal directional drillinghorizontal bed boring ,and open trenching projects. With our focus on underground water, power, gas and communication infrastructure, we’ve gained a very strong reputation for getting things done efficiently

To discuss how we can help with your non destructive digging project contact us on 1300 926 112 or submit an online enquiry now. We will come out at NO CHARGE, to scope the works and provide you with a FREE written quote, obligation-free.

HOW DOES NON DESTRUCTIVE DIGGING WORK?

The process of non destructive digging, unlike other trenching services is relatively straightforward. A sucker truck is positioned close to the entry site, where a high pressure water hose liquifies the soil underground. The soil quickly becomes a slurry mix of water, soil and debris and so a powerful sucker vacuum is used to pump the slurry into the storage tank and held on the sucker truck.

As the excavation process occurs rapidly, the surrounding soil isn’t disturbed and reduces the possibility of a cave in. Hydro excavation can be used to clear the way for infrastructure through dirty, clay and hard ground.

BENEFITS OF NON DESTRUCTIVE DIGGING

Non destructive digging using a vacuum truck is a fast, clean and efficient way to expose underground services. As the process is faster and requires fewer equipment to use, it has become one of the most cost effective digging methods available. Benefits on hydro excavation include:

  • Less likely to damage existing underground services as non destructive digging is a controlled method where only the soil is removed, exposing infrastructure without running the risk of damaging them. This is why it has become the ideal digging solution around cable and optic fibre, conduit and pipes.
  • Faster drilling compared to traditional trenching methods as a drill head isn’t required. As less equipment is also required, it is much faster than open cut trenching. Non destructive digging is ideal for large-scale turnkey projects to finish them quickly.
  • Allows for moving soil in a safe manner as the process is non-destructive, non-mechanical and environmentally friendly.
  • Reduced soil contamination as no drilling fluids enter the soil as part of non destructive digging- the only requirements are water and a vacuum.
  • Traffic disruptions are also reduced as the equipment required for non destructive digging does not need to be parked right next to the digging site.

Latest Projects

We’re a quality assured company that’s used to taking on challenges and solving problems for our customers, utilities companies, plumbers, builders and construction, landscapers and state & local governments.

Greenvale First Battery Storage Box

Greenvale’s first battery storage box set up. A Jemena network project with Drilling and Trenching

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Hoyts Cinema Docklands

During our recent Turnkey project in Dockland, our team installed the main power supply to the new Hoyts Cinema complex at Docklands.

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134 Ferras Street Sth Melbourne

Total Underground Solution team recently worked on 134 Ferrars st Sth Melb providing all Turnkey project solutions.

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What Our Customers Say

A big thanks to the team at TUS for organising a job on such short notice and all those that worked on it. The job was delivered on time which made my life easier and the customer was very happy. Thanks again, you should give your team a big pat on the back, great job!

Michael

Zinfra Group

The entire TUS crew was professional, organised and very courteous to the wider community. These guys went above what you would expect even assisting bus passengers by checking timetables and assisting the elderly theatre patrons to use the carpark. 

Radmila

NEP Alliance

Thank you for the excellent traffic control ladies that did an a outstanding job. The road was very narrow with a lot of truck traffic and the ladies made us all feel at ease when completing this job.

Adam

Asset Locating Services

The TUS team have been so outstanding in their response, action and timely resolution of anything I ask of them. It's really refreshing to know that if I call or email even a difficult request- nothing is too hard or troublesome. Thank you for such a great effort! 

Sophie

Powercor Australia Ltd

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