Before You Start Digging, Call 811
Aug. 11 is National 811 Day, a call to customers to dig safely.
In the last six minutes, an underground utility line was damaged because someone did not call 811. It’s something that happens every six minutes each year to gas, electric, water and communications lines.
Aug. 11 is National 811 Day and a reminder that customers should call 811 before starting any digging project, whether it be installing sprinklers, planting trees or replacing a fence.
Southern California Edison reminds its customers to take the time to call 811 before they dig.
Here are some steps you can follow to help keep you safe:
- Call 811 a few days before you plan to start digging, whether it’s for a construction or gardening project.
- Operators will refer you to a local utility company, which will then help mark the approximate location of a line(s) with flags or paint. Wait for your lines to be marked before starting your digging project.
- Make sure to dig around the marked lines, not on them.
- Remember that some utility lines are buried at shallow depths.
- Erosion and roots may shift the location of utility lines, so it is important to call 811 before every digging project.
