Utility Locating & Potholing in Florida: Protecting What's Underground
Before you break ground on any construction project in Florida, you need to know exactly what's beneath the surface. Utility locating and potholing are critical steps that can prevent disasters, save money, and keep your project on schedule.
What is Utility Potholing?
Utility potholing (also called "daylighting" or "soft digging") is the process of creating a small, precise excavation to visually verify the exact location, depth, and type of underground utilities. Using hydro excavation, we can safely expose buried infrastructure without risk of damage.
Why Surface Locating Isn't Enough
You've probably seen utility locators marking the ground with colorful paint and flags. While this surface locating is an important first step, it has limitations:
- Horizontal accuracy: Marks can be off by 18-24 inches or more
- Depth unknown: Surface marks don't tell you how deep utilities are buried
- Old/abandoned lines: Inactive utilities may not be marked
- Non-metallic pipes: Plastic, PVC, and concrete pipes are harder to detect
- Congested areas: Multiple utilities close together can confuse locating equipment
Florida Sunshine 811
Florida law requires calling 811 at least 2 business days before digging. But remember—811 locates are approximate. Potholing provides the visual verification you need.
How Hydro Excavation Potholing Works
- Surface locating first: We start with 811 marks and any available utility records
- Precise excavation: Pressurized water breaks up soil while vacuum removes debris
- Visual inspection: The exposed utility is photographed and documented
- Depth measurement: Exact depth from surface to top of utility is recorded
- Backfill: The hole is backfilled with excavated soil or approved material
When You Need Potholing
Common Utilities We Locate
Electric
High voltage transmission, distribution lines, service drops
Gas
Natural gas mains, service lines, propane lines
Water
Water mains, service lines, fire hydrant feeds
Sewer
Sanitary sewers, storm drains, force mains
Telecom
Fiber optic, cable TV, telephone lines
Other
Irrigation, traffic signals, private utilities
Potholing in Northwest Florida
Our service area includes all of the Emerald Coast and Panhandle:
- Okaloosa County: Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Crestview, Mary Esther, Valparaiso
- Walton County: Santa Rosa Beach, Miramar Beach, DeFuniak Springs, Freeport
- Bay County: Panama City, Panama City Beach, Lynn Haven, Callaway
- Santa Rosa County: Navarre and surrounding areas
The Cost of Skipping Potholing
We've seen projects derailed by utility strikes that could have been prevented:
- A Panama City contractor hit a fiber optic line—$180,000 in damages
- A Destin pool installer struck a gas line—project delayed 3 weeks, $15,000 in fines
- A Fort Walton Beach foundation crew broke a water main—flooded neighboring property
A few hundred dollars for potholing is cheap insurance against these scenarios.
Need Utility Locating in Northwest Florida?
Prime Plumbing & Septic provides professional potholing and utility verification services. We'll document exactly what's underground so you can dig with confidence.
Call 850-202-2749