Before You Dig This Spring, Call 811!

Spring is in full swing in Oregon, and that means the start of construction season. CUB would like to remind our readers that under Oregon law, Oregonians are required to call the state’s Utility Notification Center before they dig more than 12 inches into the ground on private property. This law applies to actions such as a planting a tree or erecting fenceposts. The Utility Notification Center is an agency dedicated to safeguarding residents and communities by providing utility location services. While it is invisible to many, a vast underground infrastructure of pipes, mains, and lines brings essential utility services to homes and businesses. Underground pipelines move water and natural gas to many residences in Oregon. Buried fiber and copper cables provide telephone and internet connections. And, while this is less common in Oregon, there may also be power lines buried underground in your neighborhood.

Before you begin a construction or excavation project that involves digging more than a foot into the ground on private residential property, you need to call the number 811, which will put you in contact with the Oregon Utility Notification Center. This entire process is free for Oregonians to ensure the safety of the community. Once you call 811, the operator will ask you some questions about the proposed excavation area. They will provide you with a reference number and information about the buried facilities in the excavation area. Within two to three days, a utility locator will visit your home and locate buried natural gas and utilities on your property. The utility locator will use visual color markers to identify the buried lines so you know where it is safe to dig, and where are the areas you should avoid excavating.

Individuals who dig more than a foot into the ground on private property without having marked buried lines are violating the law. Excavation conducted in an unsafe manner is also dangerous and expensive for utility customers. Damaging or breaking natural gas lines or buried electricity lines could lead to property damage or personal injury. A burst water pipe can lead to flood damage on your property. If a utility line is damaged by an excavation, to restore service, the utility must repair or replace the buried line or pipe. The costs of these replacements are borne by all utility customers, and could be avoided if everyone consistently called to located buried utilities prior to digging.

For more information about the Oregon Utility Notification Center, visit https://digsafelyoregon.com/.

To keep up with CUB, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

• Share this post on Facebook.
• Share this post on LinkedIn.
• Share this post with email.

« Back