811 Day Serves as an Important Reminder to ​“Know What’s Below”

Colonial Pipeline joins other pipelines and utilities in celebrating 8 – 11 day to encourage residents, contractors and municipalities to call before they dig

ALPHARETTA, Georgia (August 11, 2021) – August 11 is National 811 day, a day uniquely appropriate to celebrate ​“811” as the nationwide, free call-before-you-dig phone number. 

“Each year, Colonial Pipeline is proud to celebrate, advocate for and bring awareness to National 811 day,” said Angela Kolar — vice president of operations services and chief risk officer for Colonial Pipeline. ​“We strive as a company to implement the best safety measures every day, and today gives us the opportunity to bring attention to the importance of underground utility damage prevention. Calling 811 helps avoid hitting underground lines when digging for business or at home.”

As a founding member of the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an organization dedicated to the advocacy of protecting of all underground utilities, Colonial joins other CGA members to encourage residents, contractors, and municipalities to remember to call 811 prior to digging. 

It is never safe to assume the location or depth of pipelines or utilities. No matter the size of the project, whether building a deck, planting a tree or installing a mailbox, calling 811 or visiting www.call811.com to submit a locate request is an important first step. One free call dispatches locators to your digging site within 2 – 3 business days (depending on state law) to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both. By carefully digging around the marks you can complete your project safely and avoid damages, service disruptions, repairs and injuries.

“Even though we celebrate 811 every August, everyone should remember this important safety step year-round,” added Kolar. 

About Colonial Pipeline: Colonial Pipeline Company, founded in 1962, connects refineries ­– primarily located in the Gulf Coast ­– with customers and markets throughout the Southern and Eastern United States through a pipeline system that spans more than 5,500 miles. The company delivers refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, and fuel for the U.S. Military. Colonial is committed to safety and environmental stewardship across its operations. More information about Colonial is available at www.colpipe.com.

About the Common Ground Alliance: The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) is a member-driven association of 1,700 individuals, organizations, and sponsors in every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices including calling 811 before you dig. For more information visit https://call811.com.

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Colonial Media Contact:
Eric Abercrombie
[email protected]