Water jetting is a technique that relies on specific material but no compaction. Backfilling with jets allows the contractor to leave the trench and come back later forcing pressurized water into the trench using a long metal device. Water jetting should be avoided on plastic soils or heavy clay soils, however, it is recommended in sand or in highly fissured bedrock. In jetting, you pump the water under pressure and use the force of the jetted water to move the bedding or backfill material around.

Backfill can also be done using flowable fill, a cementitious material with a low water/cement ratio, delivered to the job site by a ready-mix truck. The material is then placed as backfill directly from the truck, just like regular concrete. Backfilling with flowable fill should be done carefully, making sure that the utility pipe is covered first with an aggregate material. Allowing flowable fill to engulf the pipe can create problems for those needing to hand dig around the pipe in the future.

Follow these steps when backfilling utility trenches:

1. Backfill trenches and excavations immediately after the pipe is laid, unless other protection is directed or indicated.
2. Select and deposit backfill materials with special reference to the future safety of the pipes.
3. In the lower portion of the trench, deposit approved backfill and bedding material in layers of 6″ maximum thickness, and compact with suitable tampers to the density of the adjacent soil until there is a cover of not less than 12″ using special care not to damage pipe and pipe coatings.
4. Except for special materials for pavements, backfill the remainder of the trench with material free from stones larger than 6″ or ½ the layered thickness, whichever is smaller, in any dimension.
5. Under roads, streets, and other paved areas.

Mechanically tamp in 6″ layers using heavy duty pneumatic tampers or equal. Tamp each layer to a density equivalent of not less than 100% of an ASTM D698 Proctor Curve. Provide additional compaction by leaving the backfilled trenches open to traffic while maintaining the surface with crushed stone.