Spring has finally sprung! With the warmer weather nearing, the urge to spring clean and spruce up the exterior grows fonder. Before we pick up the shovel, there is one crucial action we cannot miss - calling 811.
811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. Anyone who is planning on digging, no matter how big or small the project, should call this number or visit call811.com.
After you have provided all necessary information, such as the location(s) where you plan to dig, utilities are informed and will come to mark the areas to be dug.
Utilities in Texas require 2 working days and not more than 14 working days of notice in advance. There are different colored flags and paint for each type of utility and are valid for up to 14 days.
It is important to "know what's below." Cables, gas pipes, sewer lines, water pipes, and electric lines underground are at risk of damage if hit while digging. Most utilities are only 2 - 3 feet underground. If you do hit a utility line or bust a pipe you can be fined up to $3,500, or worse, given a jail sentence. Additionally, hitting a high-pressure gas line could cost you your life.
In 2021, the Common Ground Alliance's Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) reported 192,745 instances of damage to underground utilities in the U.S. The cost to repair is $30 billion annually.
The main cause of the damage - no knowledge of 811. Though most excavators are highly aware of 811, they are responsible for 60% of the damage stated above because of their failure to inform 811.
Plant the thought in your mind to call 811 before you're in the weeds.
Visit call811.com/811-in-your-state/map/state/Texas for more information.