Common Ground Alliance and utilities warn Americans to contact 811 before digging after troubling survey

In preparation for April and National Safe Digging Month, the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) recently ran a national survey of homeowners’ intentions to dig and quickly followed up with calls to always contact 811 first after it revealed a vast number have no such plans.

The CGA is a more than 2,700-member national association focused on protecting underground utility lines, as well as the people who dig near them. Its survey determined that more than 49.3 million of the 74 percent of American homeowners planning projects this year are likely to risk themselves and their communities by not checking before they dig. It would not take much, either – planting a tree or shrub, building fences, crafting decks, and installing mailboxes all could result in damage if a line is hit in the process.

“Four in 10 U.S. homeowners who are planning to dig on their property this year will not contact 811 at least a few days in advance,” CGA resident and CEO Sarah Magruder Lyle said. “That’s more than 49 million Americans who are putting themselves at serious risk of personal injury and utility service interruptions. It is important that anyone who plans to dig, regardless of how shallow the project is, contacts 811 beforehand to have their buried utilities marked so they can ensure that their communities stay safe and connected.”

811 is a national number with centers in each state. It tracks and marks the approximate location of buried utilities with paint or flags to prevent people from unintentionally digging into underground utility lines. It also hosts an online option for information.

Failure to contact 811 could result in hitting lines during a dig, which could cause injury or death, or even if physical harm is avoided, service disruptions and the costly fines and repairs that come with them. Both requests to 811 and the location markups are free.

Piedmont Natural Gas and Duke Energy offered good examples of what could happen when the free service isn’t pursued. According to the pair, which service the Carolinas, Tennessee, Ohio, and Kentucky, nearly 3,600 damages hit their underground natural gas facilities last year, and more than 10,000 cuts impacted underground lines in general. Duke Energy reported more than 6,400 damages to its underground electric network across its service area.

“A spring yard project can quickly turn into an emergency if you don’t plan ahead and call 811,” Brian Weisker, Duke Energy senior vice president and COO of natural gas, said. “Calling 811 is the best way to prevent costly and potentially dangerous damage to underground utility lines.”

The CGA urged homeowners to plan and always contact 811 a few days before digging, no matter the project. Follow-ups are also important, and the organization told homeowners to confirm all lines had been marked and to move the location of a planned project if it ended up being near utility line markings. Likewise, if a contractor is hired to handle a project instead, it encourages confirmation that the contractor had contacted 811 in the homeowner’s place.

“Whether you’re doing construction on your property or simply putting in a new mailbox, digging without contacting 811 can have serious consequences for your family and community,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. “This National Safe Digging Month, and every month, remember to always contact 811 before you dig.”