Call before you dig.
811 – Know what’s below.
It’s free, and it’s the law! Because even relatively minor excavation activities like landscaping or fencing can cause damage to a pipeline, and/or buried utility lines, always contact your state One-Call Center before engaging in any excavation, construction, farming or digging.
Most states require 48 hours notice to the One-Call Center to allow the utility operators to mark their pipelines and utilities at your proposed digging site. In fact, most serious damage done to pipelines is done when a third party inadvertently excavates, blasts or drills within a pipeline right-of-way. By contacting the One-Call Center first, this type of damage can be prevented.
811 is a new federally-mandated number designated by the FCC to consolidate all local “Call Before You Dig” numbers and help save lives by minimizing damages to underground utilities. One easy phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground pipelines and utility lines marked for FREE. When you call 811 from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your state One-Call Center. Once your underground lines have been marked for your project, you will know the approximate location of your pipelines and utility lines, and can continue your project by digging with care and respecting the marks.