What is utility locating support?
Electromagnetic locating and ground penetrating radar are excellent tools, but they have limits. Signals bleed between lines, depth readings drift, plastic pipe without tracer wire may not show at all, and older parts of Tampa Bay have decades of abandoned and undocumented lines. Paint on the ground is a starting point, not a guarantee.
Our role is to verify. Once lines are marked, we expose them at the critical points so you know their true horizontal position and depth. For design work, this is the field verification step engineers call Quality Level A under the ASCE 38 standard for subsurface utility engineering.
When you need it
- Confirming marks before excavating inside the tolerance zone
- Verifying lines that marked deeper or shallower than expected
- Resolving conflicts between different locators' marks
- Identifying unknown or abandoned lines found during locating
- Supporting SUE providers who need Quality Level A test holes
- Checking plastic gas or water lines that are hard to locate electronically
How we do it
Start from the marks
We work from your Sunshine 811 tickets, private locate marks, and any plans, and agree on the points to verify.
Expose at key points
Test holes are cut at crossings, bends, and conflict points until each line is visible.
Confirm and document
Position, depth, size, and material are recorded so the locator, engineer, or crew can update the plan.
Restore
Holes are backfilled and surfaces restored so the site is ready for the next phase.
Tampa Bay conditions
Many older Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater neighborhoods have utilities that predate modern records, along with lines that were abandoned in place. Verification is especially valuable in these areas, where what is in the ground often does not match what is on paper.
What to include in your quote request
The more of this you can share, the faster and more accurate your quote will be:
- Your 811 ticket number or locate details if available
- Number of points to verify and approximate depths
- Whether this is construction verification or SUE design data
- Documentation requirements: photos, depth logs, coordinates, or forms
Utility Locating Support FAQ
Do you replace an 811 locate?
No. Florida law requires notifying Sunshine 811 before you dig. Locating marks the lines; hydrovac verification confirms them in the ground. The two work together.
What is Quality Level A?
Under the ASCE 38 standard, Quality Level A is the highest level of utility data: a utility exposed and measured at a specific point. Hydrovac test holes are how most QL A data is collected.
Can you find lines that weren't marked?
If a line crosses a test hole or slot trench, it will be exposed. Slot trenching across an area is the best way to find unmarked crossings.
Where we provide utility locating support
We serve contractors and property owners across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.