Charleston County, South Carolina
Underground Utility Contractor in North Charleston, SC
Blackstone Utilities builds and repairs underground utilities in North Charleston, South Carolina. The work covers fiber optic installation, power conduit, water main and sewer line installation and repair, storm sewer, excavation and trenching, directional drilling, hydro vacuum services and emergency utility repair. Projects in North Charleston are planned and dispatched from our headquarters in Huntley, Illinois.
North Charleston is a city of an estimated 126,005 residents (2024 Census estimate) on about 78 square miles of land. Its primary county is Charleston County, and part of the city extends into a neighboring county.
Test holes for engineers and designers
Before a new road, building or pipeline is designed in detail, the engineer needs to know exactly where existing lines are and how deep. One-call marks show the approximate horizontal position of public facilities, but not their depth, and they do not cover the design stage. Test holes answer the question directly.
How test holes are made with hydro excavation:
Planning
The engineer marks the points of interest: crossings, conflicts and tie-ins.
Excavation
Pressurized water loosens the soil and a vacuum removes it, opening a small hole down to the line without striking it.
Measurement
The depth to the top of the line, its size and material and its position are recorded, often with photos.
Backfill and restoration
The hole is filled and compacted, and pavement or turf is restored.
Reporting
The measurements go to the engineer to be added to the design drawings.
The same technique serves contractors who must confirm a line before drilling or trenching beside it.
For homeowners and businesses in North Charleston, we also handle water service, lateral, storm and conduit work.
South Carolina 811
Under S.C. Code Title 58, Chapter 36, a locate request goes to South Carolina 811 before excavation, including test holes. The law sets the notice at no less than three and no more than twelve full working days, and a ticket expires 15 working days after the commencement date. Include the exact address, as the city spans a county line.
North Charleston and nearby cities
Hanahan, Goose Creek, Lincolnville, Charleston, Summerville and Ravenel are near North Charleston. We take on work in those communities too.
Engineers can send the drawing with the test hole locations marked and the format they want for the results. We follow up with our questions first.
Services in North Charleston
Each page covers the scope, the method and what to send for a quote.
Working with us in North Charleston
- Call us or request a quote. Calls and quote requests for North Charleston, SC go straight to our headquarters in Huntley, Illinois, open Mon-Fri 7:00 AM-7:00 PM CT.
- We scope the job. We review the site, the utility and the specifications with you and propose a method and a schedule.
- We plan and dispatch the work from Huntley, Illinois. Our headquarters plans and dispatches every job across the states we serve.
North Charleston at a glance
- State
- South Carolina
- County
- Charleston County (extends into a neighboring county)
- Population
- An estimated 126,005 residents (2024 Census estimate)
- Land area
- 78.0 square miles (Census)
Nearby communities
Request a quote in North Charleston
Tell us what you need built or repaired in North Charleston, and where. Office hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 AM-7:00 PM CT.
Request a quote
Tell us about the work in North Charleston. We follow up by phone or email.