Clarkdale council approves up to $120,000 hydro‑vac excavator to locate and inspect water service lines

At its Oct. 14 meeting, the Clarkdale Town Council authorized the town manager to execute purchase documents for a Vermeer hydro‑vacuum excavator and associated equipment not to exceed $120,000.

Utilities Director Josh said the machine will help the town comply with revised lead and copper regulations requiring utilities to create an inventory of service‑line materials and to excavate near meters and house connections when service‑line materials are unknown. "Hydro vacuum excavator will enable utility staff to excavate service lines for material identification with ease, safety, and effectiveness while minimizing impact on the homeowner's yard and mitigating the risk of hitting and damaging adjacent utilities or property," Josh said.

Josh told the council staff narrowed Clarkdale's unknown service‑line cases to roughly 800–900 properties requiring inspection and estimated "about 2 to 3 hours per service" for the field excavation portion, plus documentation time. He and staff said the excavator will also be used for water and wastewater repairs, potholing to locate utilities before digging, cleaning vaults and valve maintenance.

The purchase will be funded from enterprise operations and a budget allocation for lead‑and‑copper‑rule compliance; staff recommended using a cooperative contract to obtain government pricing. Josh described training and startup as part of the purchase so utility crews can operate and maintain the unit in‑house.

Council Member Jones moved the purchase, and Vice Mayor Hunstetter seconded. The motion carried on a voice vote.

Next steps noted in staff remarks include completing procurement through the cooperative contract, scheduling vendor startup training for utility crews and beginning the field inventory work on the targeted service lines.