Potholing is a relatively simple process, although if you use the wrong methods for digging through the soil, it can turn out pretty bad. Before vacuum and hyrdo excavation was a thing, experts used shovels and older excavation technologies for potholing, often ending up doing more harm than good. Underground utilities can be fragile, and a certain level of finesse is necessary for boring through the ground without damaging them.

In essence, potholing for underground utilities is typically very simple. You first designate the area where your excavation project will happen, then you call on your local hydro excavation or vacuum excavation service to get the potholing process going.

Because the goal of potholing is to create potholes that will allow the technicians to detect underground utilities without damaging them, both methods can be used successfully. Hydro excavation uses water to dig through to the pipes and cables below the surface, while vacuum excavation creates a vacuum that dislodges the soil and achieves pretty much the same result without the use of water.

There is some debate as to whether hydro or vacuum excavation is superior when it comes to potholing, however, both services can do their job well in this case. All you have to do is call on your local excavation professionals and they will do everything necessary to find all your undetected underground utilities in record time.