During any excavation project, if you strike something underground, chances are it will not be buried treasure! In fact, damage to underground utilities can be costly and extremely dangerous. Fortunately they are almost always avoidable. With some forward planning and preparation, potential underground hazards can be identified before they become a real nightmare.
As with all industries, different types of technology are utilised for different types of jobs, and the best equipment for locating a buried utility depends mainly on the material that the asset is made of (concrete, metal, plastic, etc.) and the ground material or substrate that the locating device must see through to calculate its location and depth.
How to Locate Undergound Power Lines
Live buried power cables are, in most cases, the easiest to locate. As the line itself is already generating a strong magnetic field, this can be detected by a suitable electromagnetic receiver.
However, the fact that power lines can be easily detected is in itself a problem, as they can hide or ‘mask’ other buried utilities. While it is easy enough to hire an EM locator from your local hire center, a professional Utility Locator will be able to ensure ALL utilities are identified. When it comes to live power lines – DIY is just not a sensible option!
How to Locate Undergound Water Lines
Professional utility locators like Ground Scan NZ can help you find underground water lines that are buried on a property using specialized equipment. We use both electromagnetic Induction (EMI) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) devices to achieve this.
Acoustic Pipe Locating is another method we use here at Ground Scan NZ to locate buried water lines. We use a specialised unit called a Pulse Wave Generator (PWG), fitted to an outlet or tap, to send an audible ‘pulse’ down the line which we can accurately trace to locate the buried utility. This technology is the foundation of our Leak Detection Service as well.
How to Locate Underground Drainage Pipes
The method for locating buried drainage pipes depends on what material the pipe is made of. Most council-owned drainage pipes in NZ are made of steel reinforced concrete, while your house connections are most likely made from PVC. In these cases we utilise our Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to locate the pipes from the surface or we insert a traceable fibreglass rod into the pipe and then use our EMI equipment to locate the pipe.
How to Locate Underground Fibre Cables
Buried Fibre Cables can be tricky to find because there is no metal in the cable itself to create an electromagnetic field. If the line has not been laid with a tracer wire by the Utility Contractor who installed it, we often need to call upon our ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology to locate these lines.
Public vs Private Utilities
An important step to planning a project that involves excavation is understanding the difference between public and private utilities.
Public Utilities are those owned and managed by councils and local authorities. Most people are completely unaware that these public pipes and cables often run under their own private property and that damaging these lines can have serious financial consequences.
Private Utilities are those owned by the property owner and include all ‘connections’ from the ‘mains’ or public networks. Power, Gas, Phone, Fibre and the connections from the house to underground sewer and stormwater networks are all the responsibility of the property owner. Most are unaware of all the underground hazards below their properties and overtime obsolete lines replaced by previous owners are commonly left buried and otherwise undetectable from the surface. It is difficult to find something if you do not know you are looking for it!
Before carrying out any excavation on your property, check for these common underground private utilities possibly hidden under the surface:
- Electricity lines for both the home and for exterior/ landscape lighting
- Live Buried Gas lines for the home
- Buried Septic Tanks and Pipes
- Sprinkler systems and water features
- Power for a detached garage or shed
- Stormwater Drains
Know Before You Dig with Ground Scan NZ
Utility Location Contractors are essential to locate any buried services, public and private, that may lie beneath the surface of the soil on private, residential, commercial properties. At Ground Scan NZ, our priority is ensuring your excavation job is safe, accurate and efficient. Thorough planning, diligent safety practices and consistent compliance are vital to a successful project, no matter the scope. We are here to help you and your team find underground obstacles before they become hazards to you and your community.
Contact our team today to discuss your Utility Location and Pre-Dig Site Survey requirements.
