Book it
- Kubota U27-4R1 Mini ExcavatorTight-tail-swing mini excavatorFrom $335/dayBook the Kubota U27-4R1 Mini Excavator
- 7x14 Dump TrailerHaul dirt, gravel and debrisFrom $155/dayBook the 7x14 Dump Trailer
Free pickup in Pierce County; exact location sent after booking. Delivery is $200 each way; your job-site address is checked at checkout.
Water and sewer jobs that fit
Our listing names trenching among the jobs the Kubota U27-4 is good for. Jobs that fit:
- Replacing a leaking water service line: Dig from the meter to the house along the old pipe, or cut a new route and abandon the old one.
- Side sewer repair or replacement: Open up a cracked or root-filled section, or trench a new line from the house to the sewer connection.
- Irrigation main lines: Run a straight trench across a lawn or field for a sprinkler main. Lift the sod first and set it aside.
- Water to a barn, shop or frost-free hydrant: Trench a line out to an outbuilding, garden or livestock hydrant.
- Septic to sewer connection: When sewer service reaches your street, dig the new side sewer from the house to the connection.
Pipe type, depth and bedding come from your city or utility’s standards, not from us.
Plan the line first
Find out which part is yours
- Water, Tacoma: Tacoma Public Utilities owns and maintains the water main, the service line up to the meter and the meter. Its policies (PDF) put the pipe from the meter to the first building on the customer.
- Water, Bonney Lake: BLMC 13.04.070 says the owner installs and maintains the water service from the meter to the place of use.
- Side sewer, Tacoma: the wastewater page says owners maintain the side sewer from the building to the City’s main.
- Side sewer, Pierce County: the side sewer FAQ says if you own your home or building, you own the side sewer.
Permits and inspection
- Tacoma: the side sewer manual (PDF) requires a permit before any side sewer repair or new side sewer. If all work is on private property, the owner may get the permit and do it. Work in the right-of-way must be done by a contractor who meets the city’s rules.
- Unincorporated Pierce County: the Residential Sewer guide (PDF) says sewer work must be done by a Pierce County Registered Sewer Contractor; check with Pierce County. Going from septic to sewer, a Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department decommissioning application comes before any tank pumping.
- Puyallup: the leak policy (PDF) says a water line repair outside the building footprint needs a Utility Connection Permit; inside, a Plumbing Permit.
- Bonney Lake: the sewer page requires a permit for any side sewer repair, replacement or installation. Sewer backup? Call Public Works Operations first.
- Elsewhere, or unsure? Check with your city or utility. Area pages: Puyallup · Bonney Lake · Sumner · Auburn · Enumclaw.
Long trenches add up
Spoil from a long pipe trench counts toward grading. Pierce County’s Fill and Grade page requires a permit for grading over one cubic yard in critical areas, or over 50 cubic yards elsewhere.
Request a utility locate
- WA 811 says to contact 811 at least two, but no more than ten, business days before you start, and to mark the route in white paint.
- Private lines, like power to an outbuilding or septic systems, are not marked.
- To find your side sewer, Tacoma suggests house plans, the previous owner or city permit records.
Summaries for planning only; follow the official text on each linked page.
Digging the line with the Kubota U27-4
The Kubota U27-4 is a tight-tail-swing mini excavator. Kubota lists its overall width and its blade width as 4 ft 11 in (Kubota U27-4 brochure, PDF).
- Measure the narrowest gate or gap on the way to the line route, posts and hinges included, before you book.
- Pile spoil on one side, back from the edge.
- Leave the trench open until the inspector signs off, then backfill with the blade.
Rules for crews in deep cuts
L&I’s excavation rules apply to employers. WAC 296-155-657 says employees in an excavation must be protected from cave-ins by a protective system, unless it is in stable rock, or less than 4 feet deep and a competent person sees no sign of a cave-in. WAC 296-155-655 says to keep spoil and equipment at least two feet from the edge, or use retaining devices.
Size and booking details: mini excavator guide.
Haul bedding in and spoil out
The 7x14 dump trailer brings bedding in and takes spoil and old pipe out. Return it emptied and swept.
- Extra dirt? Pierce County’s Dirt page lists places that take clean fill dirt (no sod or debris). Contaminated soil needs a Waste Disposal Authorization from the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
- Secure every load so nothing drops, sifts, leaks or escapes. Cover dirt, sand or gravel on paved roads unless you keep six inches of freeboard in the bed (RCW 46.61.655).
Towing checks: dump trailer guide.
Day, weekend or week?
Mini excavator: At the day rate, 3 days is $1,005 and 4 days is $1,340, vs $1,050 for a week. The weekend rate is $490 (Friday 9 AM pickup to Monday 3 PM return).
7x14 dump trailer: At the day rate, 3 days is $465 and 4 days is $620, vs $575 for a week. The weekend rate is $200 (Friday 9 AM pickup to Monday 3 PM return).
Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
Questions
Can I rent a mini excavator to replace my own water line?
Yes. Our listing names trenching among the jobs the Kubota U27-4 is good for. Tacoma Water and Bonney Lake put the pipe from the meter to the house on the owner. Check permits first.
Do I need a permit to replace a side sewer?
Usually yes. Tacoma requires a side sewer permit before any repair or new side sewer, and Bonney Lake requires one for any repair, replacement or installation. Elsewhere, check with your city or utility.
Who is responsible for the side sewer under the street?
In Tacoma, the property owner is responsible from the building to the riser, tee or wye at the public main, even where the pipe runs under the street or alley. The owner also repairs any curb, sidewalk or street damaged during the work.
Do I need to call 811 before digging a water line?
Yes. WA 811 says to contact 811 at least two, but no more than ten, business days before you dig. Private lines, like power to an outbuilding or a septic system, are not marked.
How much does it cost?
The mini excavator is $335 a day, $490 a weekend or $1,050 a week. The 7x14 dump trailer is $155 a day or $575 a week. Prices are before WA sales tax and the 1.25% heavy equipment rental tax where it applies. Your exact total shows at checkout.
Which guide fits your job? Running power, not water or sewer: underground conduit trenching. Draining a soggy spot: drainage trenching guide. More guides: all rental guides.