Hydrovac & Hydro Excavation in Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor digging comes with a specific environmental consideration: the Gelman 1,4-dioxane groundwater plume, now on the federal Superfund list. That plus university infrastructure and rolling glacial terrain shapes how jobs are planned.
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Groundwater contamination: the Gelman plume
A plume of 1,4-dioxane from the former Gelman Sciences facility affects groundwater beneath parts of Ann Arbor and Scio Township. Michigan EGLE oversees the cleanup, and EGLE says the EPA added the site to the Superfund National Priorities List in March 2026. For hydrovac work, that's mainly a water and spoil handling question: deep excavations that reach groundwater in affected areas may produce water or slurry that can't simply be dumped. Ask your operator and your project's environmental consultant how dewatering and disposal will be handled. Most shallow utility potholing won't reach the plume, but it's worth checking.
University and hospital infrastructure
The University of Michigan's central and medical campuses have extensive campus utility systems, including steam tunnels and chilled water, that the university operates itself. On or near campus property, coordinate with the facility owner as well as filing your MISS DIG notice.
Terrain and soils
Ann Arbor sits in rolling glacial terrain along the Huron River valley, with soils that change over short distances, from sandy and gravelly deposits to clay-rich till. Slopes and mature trees often push contractors toward vacuum excavation, which reduces root and landscape damage compared with a backhoe.
Utilities
DTE Energy provides electric service in Ann Arbor. The City of Ann Arbor operates the water system, which draws heavily on the Huron River. For gas territory, see the MPSC natural gas service area map.
Typical Ann Arbor-area requests
- Potholing for fiber and utility work in established neighborhoods with tree roots and tight lots
- Utility exposure for campus-adjacent and downtown construction
- Daylighting ahead of HDD under roads and the river corridor
- Excavation where spoil and water management needs extra care
Sources: EGLE: Gelman Sciences, Inc.; EGLE press release, March 12, 2026.
Other Michigan city guides: Grand Rapids · Detroit · Lansing · Kalamazoo · Flint · Saginaw · Traverse City · Muskegon · Holland · Battle Creek · Troy · Novi
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