When Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey proclaims April to be Safe Digging Month across the state, she once again sheds light on the nationwide effort to warn about the dangers of damaging underground utility lines.
Digging before checking for underground utility lines not only risks service interruptions for your neighbors, but it can also lead to personal injury. Still, a 2019 survey conducted by the Common Ground Alliance found that nearly half of homeowners don’t call their local utility notification center before digging.
If you plan to dig on your property, even if only a couple of inches deep, call 811 to protect yourself and your community.
CALL — Dial 811 two to three days before work is set to begin to notify your local one-call center of your plans to dig. You can also make a request online by visiting al811.com. The center will notify affected utilities.
WAIT — Wait for the affected utilities to respond to your request. On average, it will take the center two to three days to provide you a list of utilities that were notified.
MARK — Confirm that all utilities have responded to your request and have marked any underground lines on your property.
STEER CLEAR — The marks provided by utilities are your guide. Respect them and steer clear of digging on marked ground. If you are unable to maintain the marks during your project, please call 811 to request a re-mark.
DIG — Be careful when you dig. If you can’t avoid digging near the marks, consider moving your project to another part of your property.