This workshop has been rescheduled for TBD

**IDEM Approved 4 Water Technical Hours**

This workshop will cover fluid mixing, underground services locating, and utilizing equipment to reduce the risk of damaging underground services.

Hydro-Excavation: We will discuss hydro-excavation and its uses versu a shovel in the soil approach — when it is optimal to use hydro-excavation, and the affect it has on the lines that are being excavated. The majority of this training will be hands-on with a vacuum excavator to provide real life experience with the tools. Also coverd will be equipment maintenance to ensure continued high level functionality.

Line Locating: We will discuss and utilize underground service locators to detect and mark utilities. The benefit of utilizing these locators is to track down a service line prior to excavation of any kind to minimize risk. Features of the locators will be reviewed to maximize awareness of the benefits of these tools; including but not limited to direct connect method and passive method. We will discucss best practices and how to better utilize these tools to minimize potential issues. There will be hands-on training with this equipment to better prepare participants for real life applications.

Directional Drilling: With focus on mud mixing, we will review various available products and discuss their practical uses. When horizontally drilling underground, various soil conditions will present themselves and utilizing the correct mix will reduce the wear on the machine as well as improve production and minimize opportunity for error. We will look at the chemical content of the water that is being utilized and how to ensure it has the correct pH balance and what additives that will not harm the environment. At the end of this training, all participants will have a better understanding of the products that are out there to assist with directional drilling as well as a better understanding of the composition of these products and the effects of these products.