Know What’s Below

Now you can be connected directly to the Call Before You Dig One Call system by simply dialing 811 from anywhere in the United States.  The new, federally mandated national number was created to help protect you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects.  The One Call Center personnel will notify affected utility companies, who will send crews to mark underground lines for free.

Before you, or a professional you hire, begins digging in a fence, mailbox post, or swing set, tilling a new garden spot, planting a tree, installing a satellite dish, or adding a deck, it’s essential to call 811.  You must call 3 days in advance and not more than 10 days before you begin your project.

Why Call Before You Dig?

1.  It could save your life!   Many services lie buried beneath the ground. Power lines and gas lines are two of the most deadly.  Cut cables cannot transmit signals to 911 or in-home medical equipment.
2.  It could save your property!  Fire or explosion from a damaged gas line, erosion from a broken water line, disease from a broken sewer line or simply the inconvenience of losing your phone or cable TV service due to a cut power line.
3.  It could save you money!  It doesn't cost anything to contact the One Call center.  With one quick telephone call, all utilities in your area will be notified to come and mark the location of their lines. However, if you damage a utility line and did NOT call before digging, you may be fined and liable for up to three times the actual amount of the damage.
4.  IT'S THE LAW!

One Call makes it easy to be safe and eliminates the need for you to call each utility directly.  The person or company doing the excavation is required to call the Center.  The following information is needed to process your request: name, address, the dig address and the nearest intersection, how deep you are digging, the type of work and where you need the property marked out.  You will receive a ticket number, which you should keep as proof of compliance until your project is safely completed.  One Call will alert all the operators of underground facilities in your area. These operators will then mark any underground lines or hazards, helping you to dig safely. The color code markings for utilities are:  red-electric; yellow-gas, oil, dangerous materials, product & steam lines; orange-CATV communication; blue-water; green-sewer; white-proposed excavation.

Remember, it’s not just a good idea to call this free service – it’s the law.