Dial 811 Before You Dig
The sun is finally shining in Southern California, and now is the perfect time to plant a garden. You have picked just the right place in your backyard, chosen plants and flowers for spring and now it’s time to begin digging.
You take your shovel and begin to remove rocks, roots and other debris when you spot an underground utility line. That’s why Southern California Edison encourages customers to call 811 before starting any digging projects.
April is National Safe Digging Month and a survey by the Common Ground Alliance reveals 42 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year for projects like landscaping, installing a fence or building a deck could put themselves and their communities at risk. Homeowners should call 811 first to learn the location of underground utilities, including gas, water, electric and communication lines.
Calling 811 a few days before any planned home improvement projects that require digging is critical in preventing service outages and serious injuries.
SCE encourages homeowners and others working on projects to take the following steps when planning a project this spring:
- Always call 811 a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
- Plan ahead. Call on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
- Confirm that all lines have been marked.
- Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
- If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has called 811. Don’t allow work to begin if the lines aren’t marked.
Visit call811.com for more information.
