Hydro jetting is a pipe cleaning method that sends high-pressure water through a hose-mounted nozzle to cut through blockages and scour the full interior wall of a sewer, storm, or drain line. It removes grease, scale, roots, and sediment instead of punching a hole through them, and it uses no chemicals. Based in North Salt Lake, Delta Hydro Excavation provides hydro jetting for municipalities, contractors, property managers, and utilities across Salt Lake, Davis, Utah, Summit, and Washington Counties. Every jetting job is paired with a CCTV camera inspection by NASSCO-certified operators, with OSHA 30-trained supervisors and confined-space-trained crews.
What Is Hydro Jetting?
Hydro jetting, also called sewer jetting or water jetting, cleans a pipe from the inside using water alone. Pressures typically run from 3,000 to 8,000 PSI depending on pipe size, material, and what is being removed. Snaking opens a path through a clog. Jetting removes the buildup along the whole pipe wall and restores the line to something close to its original diameter.
How Does Hydro Jetting Work?
- Water is pressurized. A truck-mounted pump feeds a high-pressure hose on a reel.
- The nozzle pulls itself up the line. Rear-facing jets propel the hose through the pipe and scour the wall. Forward-facing jets break through the blockage ahead.
- Debris flushes back. As the hose is retrieved, the rear jets wash loosened material toward the access point, where it is removed.
Nozzles are matched to the job. Penetrating nozzles open hard blockages, flushing nozzles move sand and sediment, and rotating nozzles strip grease and scale from the pipe wall.
What Does Hydro Jetting Remove?
- Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in commercial kitchen and restaurant lines
- Mineral scale and hardened sediment
- Tree root intrusion at joints and cracks
- Sand, gravel, and construction debris in sewer and storm lines
- Sludge and buildup that snaking leaves on the pipe wall
When Should You Use Hydro Jetting Instead of Snaking?
Snaking is the right tool for a single soft clog near an access point. Hydro jetting is the right tool when:
- Clogs keep coming back after snaking
- Buildup coats the pipe wall instead of forming one plug
- A camera confirms root intrusion
- Multiple fixtures or buildings are backing up
- A line needs to be clean for CCTV inspection
- A pipe is being prepared for lining or rehabilitation
- A commercial or municipal line is on a preventive maintenance schedule
Jetting is not the right tool for a pipe that is collapsed, fractured, or badly corroded. Pressure makes existing damage worse, which is why the camera goes in first.
What Equipment Is Used for Hydro Jetting?
| Component | What it does |
|---|---|
| Water tank and high-pressure pump | Supplies and pressurizes the cleaning water |
| Hose and reel | Carries water to the nozzle and controls travel in the pipe |
| Nozzles | Direct the jets for cutting, flushing, or wall scouring |
| CCTV camera | Confirms pipe condition before jetting and results after |
| Vacuum truck | Removes debris flushed to the access point |
Delta's camera and vacuum truck specifications are on the Equipment page.
What Industries Use Hydro Jetting?
- Municipalities and public works: sewer main maintenance, storm drain and culvert cleaning
- General contractors: flushing construction debris from new lines before inspection and acceptance
- Utility companies: clearing conduit and duct runs
- Civil engineers: cleaning ahead of condition assessment and rehabilitation design
- Property managers: restaurant grease lines, multi-tenant mains, parking lot storm drains
- Pipeline operators: cleaning process and drain lines at facilities
What Does Hydro Jetting Look Like on a Job Site?
- Access and setup. The crew locates the manholes or cleanouts at each end of the run and sets traffic control if the access is in a roadway.
- Camera first. A CCTV pass confirms the pipe is structurally sound, identifies what is blocking it, and rules out a utility line crossing the pipe.
- Nozzle and pressure selection. The operator matches both to pipe diameter, material, and the type of buildup.
- Jetting. The hose is typically launched from the downstream access and worked upstream, so debris washes back toward the crew.
- Debris removal. Material flushed to the access point is captured instead of being sent down the line.
- Camera again. A second pass documents the cleaned pipe and any defects the buildup was hiding.
What Are the Safety Advantages of Hydro Jetting?
- No chemicals. Nothing corrosive goes into the pipe, the treatment plant, or a storm outfall.
- No digging. The line is cleaned from existing manholes and cleanouts.
- No entry. Crews work from the surface, which limits confined space exposure.
- Verified pipe condition. Inspecting before jetting keeps pressure out of pipes that cannot take it.
- Cross-bore check. The camera finds a gas or utility line crossing the pipe before any tool touches it.
Utah-Specific Considerations
Hard water and scale
Wasatch Front water is hard, and the minerals that leave white deposits on fixtures also build up inside drain lines, especially older cast iron. Scale narrows the pipe and gives grease and debris a rough surface to catch on. A rotating nozzle removes scale that a cable cannot.
FOG programs and documentation
Salt Lake City and other Utah sewer providers run fats, oils, and grease programs for food service businesses. Salt Lake City requires those businesses to keep grease-device cleaning and maintenance records for five years. Jetting the line downstream of the interceptor is the other half of that maintenance, and dated service records with camera footage show an inspector the line is being cared for.
Winter and spring
Grease hardens faster in cold pipes, so kitchen lines that run slow in summer can block in January. Storm drains collect a winter's worth of road sand and grit, and cleaning them before spring runoff restores the capacity they need.
Roots in older neighborhoods
Mature trees and older clay tile laterals are a common pairing in established Utah neighborhoods. Jetting clears the roots. A camera shows where they are entering so the joint can be repaired or lined.
Cross bores
Gas and fiber lines installed by directional drilling occasionally pass through a sewer lateral without anyone knowing. Jetting or cutting into one can rupture a gas line. Inspecting a blocked lateral by camera before clearing it is the safeguard.
Manholes in UDOT right-of-way
Jetting from a manhole in a state highway requires a UDOT encroachment permit and an approved traffic control plan. Delta is a UDOT Masterworks registered vendor.
Hydro Jetting FAQ
Is hydro jetting safe for older pipes?
Yes, if the pipe is structurally sound. Clay tile, cast iron, concrete, and PVC in good condition all tolerate hydro jetting. Pipes with fractures, heavy corrosion, or separated joints should be repaired or lined first. Delta inspects by camera before jetting to confirm the pipe can take the pressure.
When does a sewer line need hydro jetting instead of snaking?
Snaking punches a hole through a clog and suits a single soft blockage near an access point. Hydro jetting is needed when clogs recur, when grease or scale coats the pipe wall, when roots are confirmed by camera, or when a line must be fully clean before inspection or lining.
How often should sewer lines be hydro jetted?
Commercial kitchen and restaurant lines are typically jetted every 6 to 12 months. Multi-tenant commercial mains are usually jetted annually. Municipal sewer mains on preventive maintenance programs are often cleaned on a 3- to 5-year cycle. Lines with root intrusion generally need annual service because roots grow back.
Can hydro jetting remove tree roots?
Yes. Hydro jetting cuts fibrous root masses and flushes them out of the line. Very thick roots may need mechanical cutting first. Roots return through the same opening unless the pipe is repaired or lined, so a camera inspection after jetting is used to plan the permanent fix.
Why is a camera inspection done before hydro jetting?
The camera confirms the pipe is strong enough for jetting, shows what is causing the blockage, and checks for a gas or utility line that has been bored through the pipe. Jetting into a cross bore can rupture a gas line, so the inspection comes first.
Does hydro jetting use chemicals?
No. Hydro jetting cleans with pressurized water only. Nothing corrosive is added to the pipe, which makes it safe for a wide range of pipe materials and for lines that drain to a treatment plant or storm outfall.
To schedule hydro jetting or request a quote, call (801) 435-3203 ext. 1501.