Hydro Excavating

suction excavator or hydrovac excavator is a construction vehicle that removes Earth from a hole on land, or removes heavy debris on land, from various places, by powerful suction through a wide suction pipe that is up to a foot or so in diameter. The suction inlet air speed may be up to 100 metres/second (224 mph).

The suction nozzle may have two handles for a man to hold it by; those handles may be on a collar that can be rotated to uncover suction-release openings (with grilles over) to release the suction to make the suction nozzle drop anything it has picked up and is too big to go up the tube.

The end of the tube may be toothed. This helps to cut Earth when used for excavating; but when it is used to suck up loose debris and litter, some types of debris items may snag on the teeth.

The Earth to be sucked out may be loosened first with a compressed-air lance or a powerful water jet.

Its construction is somewhat like a gully emptier, but with a wider suction hose and a more powerful suction.

Excavating with a suction excavator may be called "vacuum excavation," or "hydro excavation" if a water jet is used.

Vacuum excavation (also known as suction excavation) is considered a best practice for safely locating and witnessing underground utilities, reducing the chance of utility strikes by more than half.