Unitil, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, is reminding customers and contractors that August 11 is National 811 Safe Digging Day, an annual designation to increase awareness to contact Dig Safe before starting any digging or excavating projects.
Dig Safe is a notification system that coordinates with local utility companies to mark underground utility lines before digging begins.
State law requires homeowners to have underground utilities marked before digging in their yard, regardless of the size or scope of work. The service is free, and customers can request a Dig Safe ticket online or by calling 811.
”As first responders, we know all too well the dangers of digging without making a call first to ensure that it's safe. A simple call to 811 can save lives, prevent costly damage, and keep our communities safe. This is a good time to remind everyone about the importance of checking before you dig to prevent a potentially hazardous situation,” said Plaistow, N.H., Fire Chief Chris Knutsen.
“Contractors are aware that they have to call Dig Safe at 811 before digging to make sure all the utilities are marked out in advance. However, many homeowners are unaware that they also need to contact Dig Safe when they are doing the work themselves. It is a free service that helps keep everyone safe and protects property,” said Lunenburg Fire Chief Patrick Sullivan.
Once the utilities are marked, homeowners will see different color flags on the ground. Red flags are for electric power lines, cables, and conduit. Yellow is for natural gas, oil, or gaseous materials. Orange is for communication lines such as cable TV, alarm, or signal lines. Blue is for water and irrigation. Green is for sewers and drain lines.
According to Dig Safe, even simple, do-it-yourself projects such as planting trees, installing mailboxes, or setting posts for a fence require a Dig Safe request. The lone exception is for help identifying municipal services, such as water and sewer lines. In these cases, homeowners and contractors must contact a town or city directly for location assistance.
“The message is clear: never assume it’s safe to dig without checking first,” said Unitil External Affairs Director Alec O’Meara. “Taking a few minutes to contact Dig Safe can prevent an outage or a tragedy. It’s the most important step you can take before breaking ground.”
For more information or to submit a Dig Safe request, visit digsafe.com or call 811. Learn more about the free DigSafe process here.
