Colonial In The News

National Call 811 Before You Dig Day: What You Need To Know



811 Day: What You Need to Know

August 11 is designated as 811 Day. The calendar date serves as a natural reminder for anyone who plans to dig to call 811 prior to the start of their project to have underground utility lines marked. 

811 isn’t just for excavators.

  • Every digging project – big or small — requires a call to 811. Whether you are planting a tree, installing a mailbox, laying a foundation, or doing mechanized excavation, you need to call 811.
  • Calling 811 a few days prior to digging notifies utility companies of your intent to dig and gives representatives time to mark underground lines. It’s the law.
  • Laws in all 50 states require you to call 811 prior to the commencement of digging, boring, drilling, etc. Be sure to check the requirements in your state.
  • Lines need to be marked for each separate project, even if the same work was done in the same area previously. Never guess where an underground line is located. 811 can be called from anywhere in the country.
  • The call is routed to the one call center closest to you.
  • A representative from your local one call center will respond to your call and notify affected utility companies of your intent to dig.
  • Utility companies will send a professional locator to the digging site to identify and mark the location of underground lines.
  • Once lines have been marked, respect the marks and dig carefully around them. The consequences of not calling can be deadly.
  • Third-party damage is the primary cause of damage to underground lines in the United States.
  • It’s easy to underestimate the risk when lines are buried underground, but hitting an underground utility line while digging can cause serious injuries, disrupt service, and threaten your community and the environment.
  • You could also be held responsible for repair costs and lost revenues while the line is out of service, and may be required to pay fines.

PROMOTE SAFE DIGGING AT WORK & AT HOME

To learn more about 811, visit www.call811.com