Page 15 - Louisiana 811 Magazine 2022 Issue 2

With a temporary mobile command unit established, they quickly began coordinating with their customer to accompany each utility repair crew with a hydro vac truck.
The historic storm had wreaked havoc on the power infrastructure of local communities. More than 30,500 distribution poles and 6,000 transformers were damaged. Hydro excavation, which moves dirt or soil with pressurized water and then removes it with a vacuum to a debris tank, was a critical part of the restoration process.
Each power pole that was damaged or knocked down had to be reinstalled. With powerlines down and destruction covering the ground, each hole had to be carefully and precisely dug using hydro excavation in order to get the pole back in the ground.
The 811 Emergency Response System in Louisiana was at
full capacity during the storm recovery process, making
hydro excavation even more essential. By using the “soft dig” technology, operators could avoid hitting underground utilities that weren’t easily identifiable in the aftermath of the storm.
Hydro-X was able to dig each hole 7 to 8 feet deep and 20 inches in diameter. Traditionally, an auger would have been used in the process, which is often responsible for utility line strikes further adding to the destruction and unsafe conditions. Today, many utility companies are incorporating hydro excavation as an integral part of their storm recovery plans.
The Hydro-X team worked round the clock to help with the restoration process and stayed for nearly 90 days continuing to support infrastructure repair work. Their efforts, alongside their customer, helped restore much-needed power to communities impacted by the storm.
Interested in incorporating hydro excavation into your next utility construction project? Here is some important information to keep in mind.
What is hydro excavation?
Hydro excavation is an environmentally protective process that injects highly pressurized water into a target area followed by extraction of soil and other objects with a customized, industrial strength vacuum. The vacuum transports the debris into a truck mounted tank for safe transport to a designated disposal site.
Why do you need hydro-excavation as part of your emergency response?
Unmarked utilities are one of the greatest threats to any job site. Striking a utility can have catastrophic consequences including significant collateral damage, safety risks, environmental effects, schedule impact, repair costs, community backlash, and property damage. Those risks are even greater during storm recovery.
When should I try it?
It’s best not to wait until an emergency to build hydro excavation into your project plan. Ensuring your utility locates are accurate before beginning any underground construction project can keep people safe, lower your costs, protect the environment, and help ensure your project is completed on time. Non-destructive excavation helps you do just that.
To learn more about HydroExcavators, LLC go to www. hydroexcavators.com.
2022, Issue 2 Louisiana 811 • 13