Utility company urges residents to 'call before you dig'
A recent national survey indicated that more than 27 million homeowners planning do-it-yourself digging projects will not contact 811. This negligence can lead to damaging underground utilities, risking safety and causing service disruptions for neighbors and essential services.
Striking a utility line can result in costly repairs, inconvenient outages, fines and even injuries. When homeowners and contractors contact 811, they are connected to the Miss Utility system. This system notifies utility companies to mark the approximate locations of underground utility lines with colored flags or spray paint. Each color indicates the type of utility present and where digging should be avoided. The flags can be removed once the project is completed.
Columbia Gas has outlined key steps for homeowners to follow before starting any digging project. First, they should contact 811 by calling or going to MissUtility.net at least three business days before the project begins, regardless of the size or depth of the work. Planning ahead is crucial; submitting a free 811 request early in the week is recommended for weekend projects to allow sufficient time for marking. Homeowners should confirm that all utility lines are marked before starting work.
If necessary, homeowners should adjust their project plans to avoid marked utility lines. It is also essential to verify that any hired contractors have contacted 811 and requested utility markings before commencing work.
Columbia Gas emphasizes that spreading awareness and encouraging responsible digging practices can help keep communities safe and prevent unnecessary disruptions. For more information about 811 and safe digging practices, go to MissUtility.net or ColumbiaGasMD.com/811.
This story was created by Janis Reeser, jreeser@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct or share your thoughts at http://bit.ly/3RapUkA with our News Automation and AI team.
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This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Columbia Gas reminds customers to contact 811 before digging
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