PVC isn't nearly as strong as RMC when it comes to shovels, pick axes, and drilling. Which is why it requires deeper burial. Always dig deeper that the landscaper would, someone once told me. Imagine a home owner or landscaper putting a pick axe through the side of service conductors.
Even a ditch-witch! From experiance I can tell you larger RMC makes a distinctive pinging sound when the teeth first hit it. Fair warning to stop. PVC you just see it come up, and hope its only a water line, as opposed to anything else, like gas or electric, or worse both! Even if you call before you dig, there is alway a chance of hitting something.
They unfortunately haven't found anything that will stand up to back-hoe abuse. Or the pavement saw.
