300-ft water line — Mission
New service line from the meter to a back-of-property workshop. 36" deep, sand-bedded, traced, and backfilled the same day.
MissionTrenching · Rio Grande Valley
Trenching & utility lines in the Rio Grande Valley
Water, sewer, electrical, irrigation — clean trenches at the right depth, bedded properly, backfilled and compacted. We coordinate with your plumber, electrician, and the 811 locate.
The Problem
A bad trench wrecks a good line.
Trenching looks simple from the outside — dig a ditch, drop the pipe, fill it in. But every step matters. Too shallow and freeze cracks the line. Too narrow and the bedding can't be done right. Skip the bedding and the rock punctures the pipe a year later. Skip the compaction and the trench settles, the slab cracks, the driveway sinks.
We dig to the right depth for the utility — water lines below frost, sewer at the right fall, electrical at code depth. We bed properly with sand or specified material, lay the line, backfill in lifts, and compact so the surface doesn't settle.
We call 811 for utility locates before we dig. We coordinate with your plumber or electrician so they're ready to drop the line when the trench is open. We backfill the same day when we can.
Scope
What’s included
811 locate coordination
We call in the locate ticket before we dig and respect the marks. No accidental hits.
Water line trenching
Trenches at the right depth for your service or main, with proper bedding and tracer wire when required.
Sewer line trenching
Sewer trenches dug to the right fall — minimum 1/4" per foot — and bedded so the pipe stays in line.
Electrical trenches
Code-depth trenches for residential and commercial service runs. We coordinate with your electrician on conduit placement.
Irrigation mains
Long-run trenches across pastures, citrus groves, and farm lots for irrigation mains and lateral feeds.
Backfill & compaction
Backfill in lifts, compacted so the trench doesn't settle into a ditch a year later.
Recent Jobs
Typical trenching projects we handle
Sewer connect — Donna
New connection from a barndominium addition to the existing septic line. Dug to fall, bedded clean, backfilled in lifts.
DonnaIrrigation main — Mercedes ranch
1/4-mile irrigation main across a citrus grove. Long straight run, tracer wire, proper depth so plow and disc don't hit it.
MercedesCommercial service pull — Brownsville
Underground electrical service trench for a small commercial building. Worked with the electrician on conduit placement and ground rods.
BrownsvillePricing
Straightforward pricing
By the job
Most trenching work is quoted by the job after a free site visit. You get one fixed number that covers labor, equipment, materials, and disposal. No hidden charges.
Hourly backhoe rate
For smaller fixes or jobs where the scope isn’t clear until we dig, we offer an hourly backhoe rate. Best for unclear scope or quick repair work.
Free estimates either way.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does trenching cost?
Most residential trenches price per linear foot once we know depth, soil, and the obstacles in the way. A typical service-line trench runs $8–$18 per foot. Long runs across open land are cheaper per foot. We give you a firm number after we walk it.
How deep do you trench?
Depends on the utility: water typically 24–36 inches; sewer to fall; electrical at code depth (24 in. direct burial, 18 in. in conduit). Tell us what's going in and we set the depth.
Do you handle the 811 locate?
Yes. We call in the locate ticket, wait the required time, and respect the marks. If a line gets re-marked or moved, we handle that too.
Do you backfill the same day?
Same day where the line's ready to bury. If your plumber or electrician needs to pressure-test or inspect first, we leave it open and come back to backfill.
Can you do long runs across pastures and groves?
Yes — those are some of our cleanest jobs. Open land, straight line, no obstacles. We move fast on those.
Do you work with my plumber/electrician?
Yes. We coordinate so the trench is open when they need it and gets buried when they're done. One less thing for you to chase.
Gallery
Trenching work
Coverage
We trench across the whole Valley
- ✓ McAllen
- ✓ Edinburg
- ✓ Pharr
- ✓ Mission
- ✓ Harlingen
- ✓ Brownsville
- ✓ Weslaco
- ✓ San Benito
- ✓ Mercedes
- ✓ Donna
- ✓ Alamo
- ✓ La Feria
- ✓ Los Fresnos
- ✓ Rio Hondo
- ✓ Rural RGV
Got a line to drop? Let's talk.
Free estimates across the RGV. Call, text, or send us a message.