Trenching, Drainage and Ponds in Paris and Brantford

The details

Water lines and drains both start with a trench. We dig them straight, to the right depth and with the right bedding, so pipes do not freeze and drains keep working for years.

Utility trenching

We trench for water lines, hydro cable and gas service to houses, shops, barns and outbuildings. A water line has to sit below frost, so the trench is deep and narrow, cut with a bucket sized for the job. We bed the pipe, backfill in layers and pack each one so the ground does not sink later. Your licensed plumber, electrician or gas fitter makes the connections. We handle the dig and the backfill.

Drainage that works

Wet basements, soggy yards and driveways that wash out all come back to water with nowhere to go. We install weeping tile, perforated pipe wrapped in clear stone, French drains and swales. The goal is simple: catch the water, give it a slope and send it to a ditch or a safe spot downhill. Sometimes the fix is a better surface slope instead, and our site grading page explains how we reshape the ground.

Ponds and holding ponds

In 2026 we dug a holding pond at Six Nations of the Grand River with a CAT 320 excavator. It was load, haul, dump, repeat: dig the bowl, shape the banks and truck the spoil out. Farm and backyard ponds follow the same steps on a smaller scale. We shape the side slopes so they hold, and we can spread the spoil on your land if you have room for it.

Before we dig

Every trench starts with locates. We also look at the soil. Clay trench walls tend to stand up, while sand caves in, and deep trenches have to be sloped back or braced to keep people safe. If we hit rock or something buried, we stop and talk to you before going further.

When to call us

If your basement leaks every spring thaw, call before the snow melts so we can plan the fix. Water line and hydro trenches go best in dry weather, from spring to late fall.