Vactor Truck & Hydrovac Services
Professional vactor truck and hydrovac services across the greater Puget Sound region. Contact us to request a quote or discuss your project.
Common Questions
How is hydrovac excavation different from traditional digging?
Traditional excavation uses mechanical force — buckets, blades, and augers that can’t “see” what’s underground. Hydrovac uses pressurized water to loosen soil and a vacuum to remove it, giving operators precise control. The result is a clean excavation with virtually zero risk of striking a buried utility, pipe, or cable. It’s now the preferred method on any site where utility density is unknown or high.
Do I need to call 811 before you arrive?
Yes, and we’d encourage you to do it as early as possible. Calling 811 (Washington’s utility notification line) triggers a locate request for public utilities in the area, which is required by law before any excavation. That said, 811 only covers publicly maintained utilities. Private lines — including those on commercial or industrial properties — are the owner’s responsibility to locate. We can help identify gaps in your locate coverage before we mobilize.
What types of projects do you work on?
We work across both public and private sectors, including general contractors, municipalities, utilities, telecom providers, and property owners. Common project types include pre-construction utility verification, storm and sewer maintenance, new utility installation, emergency response, and industrial facility cleanup. If you’re unsure whether your project is a fit, call us at 206-793-7622 — it’s usually a quick answer.
Are you prevailing wage compliant?
Yes. Northwest Construction is fully prevailing wage compliant and IUOE Local 302 signatory, which means we’re qualified for publicly funded and government-contracted work in Washington State. All required documentation is available upon request.
How quickly can you mobilize?
It depends on current workload and project scope, but we routinely turn around quotes within one business day and can often mobilize within the same week for standard work. For time-sensitive or emergency situations, contact us directly at 206-793-7622 to discuss availability.
What happens to the material you excavate?
All excavated material is vacuum-loaded into our truck on-site. We handle transport and legal disposal in accordance with Washington State requirements. For contaminated or regulated materials, we’ll confirm disposal protocols before the project begins so there are no surprises.
