www.alliancecom.net 15 5. Wait for utilities to mark. Utility companies will then send out a locator to your dig site to mark the approximate location of buried utilities with color-coded markings. This marking system is meant to safely identify, locate, and protect buried lines for both you and utility personnel. Using paint, flags, or stakes, certain colors indicate different utilities, such yellow for gas lines and red for electric power lines. (See the sidebar for more details.) Once you’ve called 811 and confirmed that all the necessary utilities fulfilled your request, you can grab a shovel and get busy digging. Just make sure you stay away from the marked areas. 811 Only Covers Public Utilities It’s important to make the distinction between public and private utilities. All public utilities are responsible for maintaining their underground facilities. Part of that responsibility includes registering with 811 so their lines may be located for free. A private utility, however, is owned and maintained by the property owner and is not registered with 811. It’s the responsibility of the homeowner to have their private utilities located at their own expense. Common examples of private utilities include: • Sprinkler or irrigation systems • Electric running to a detached garage or shop • Lines connected to a propane tank or septic system • Gas lines underground for grills and outdoor fire pits • Electric dog fence If you have private utilities on your property, you must contact a private utility locating company to have those lines marked. This is in addition to calling 811 to have public utilities located. Do You Know the Color Code of Locate Crews? After you call 811, locate crews from member utility companies are told where you are planning to dig, and they will typically arrive within a few days to mark the location of underground utility lines. These markings may be done with paint or flags and will use this universal color code: • Red – Electric power lines • Pink – Temporary survey markings • Orange – Communications lines, cables, or conduit • Blue – Potable water • Green – Sewer and drain lines • Yellow – Gas/petroleum pipeline • Purple – Reclaimed water • White – Premark site of intended excavation After these crews have completed their work, check the digging area carefully before proceeding with your project. Make sure to dig carefully around the marks and not on them, consider relocating projects that are close to buried utilities. Some utility lines may be buried at a shallow depth, and an unintended shovel thrust can bring you right back to square one, facing potentially dangerous and/or costly consequences. Safe digging is no accident. Always call 811 before you dig.
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