Professional Utility Trenching Services in Phoenix
Safe, Accurate Trenching for Water, Sewer, Electric & Gas Lines
Laser-Guided Utility Trenching Across Phoenix & Maricopa County
Every buried utility line starts with a trench. Cut it wrong and you risk hitting existing infrastructure, missing grade requirements, or creating settling issues that show up months later. SewerTime uses laser-guided grade control and properly rated equipment to trench accurately through Phoenix's compacted desert soils and rock formations.
Precision Trenching for Arizona's Tough Ground
Phoenix-area soils range from loose sandy fill to dense caliche and fractured rock — and the right trenching equipment makes all the difference. We run high-tonnage excavators and rock trenchers equipped to handle whatever the ground throws at us, without tearing up the surrounding area in the process.
Every trench we cut is verified with laser-guided grade control, ensuring the fall rate matches what the system designer and county reviewer specified. For gravity sewer and utility lines, the required slope tolerance is 1/8" to 1/4" per foot — and we hold those numbers consistently.
Before any digging starts, our crews coordinate with Arizona 811 (Blue Stake) to locate and verify all underground utilities in the work zone. All excavations deeper than 5 feet are protected with OSHA-compliant shoring or trench boxes.
Sewer & Gravity Line Trenching
Gravity-fed conveyance lines demand dead-accurate slope. We trench for 4" residential laterals through 8" municipal mains, bedding pipe on engineered aggregate and compacting backfill in controlled lifts.
Water Line Trenching
Domestic and commercial water supply trenches cut to Maricopa County-mandated depth and separation standards, with proper thrust blocking and tracer wire placement.
Electric & Gas Utility Trenching
Joint trench configurations for APS/SRP electrical conduit and Southwest Gas lines. We handle sand bedding, warning tape, and conduit stub-outs to the meter panel.
Blue Stake Compliance, Backfill & Compaction Protocols
Arizona law requires calling 811 at least two business days before any mechanical excavation. SewerTime handles the Blue Stake coordination process, verifying all utility mark-outs before digging begins — protecting both the project and any existing underground infrastructure nearby.
After pipe installation, backfill is placed in controlled 6- to 12-inch lifts using approved native material or imported aggregate base. Each lift is mechanically compacted to 90-95% Modified Proctor density, with compaction testing performed when the jurisdiction requires it. Proper backfill prevents trench settlement, pavement failure, and broken pipe joints down the road.
- Arizona 811 / Blue Stake Coordination — Full pre-dig utility locating and mark-out verification before every project
- OSHA Trench Safety — Benching, sloping, shoring, and trench boxes deployed on all excavations exceeding 5 feet in depth
- Controlled Lift Compaction — Mechanical compaction in 6"-12" lifts to 90-95% Modified Proctor density standards
- Residential & Commercial Trenching — From single-family sewer laterals to multi-lot subdivision utility corridors across Scottsdale, Cave Creek, and Mesa
- Laser-Guided Grade Control — Precise elevation control maintains pipe slope tolerances of 1/8" to 1/4" per foot
- Hard Soil & Rock Trenching — Hydraulic breakers and rock trenchers for cutting through compacted caliche and rock formations