Unitil, a New England provider of electricity, natural gas, and water, reminds homeowners and contractors that August 11 is National 811 Safe Digging Day. This event raises awareness about the need to contact Dig Safe before starting any digging or excavation work.
State law requires all homeowners to have underground utilities marked before digging, regardless of project size. This free service is available at digsafe.com or by calling 811. Homeowners and contractors must also contact their city or town for marking of municipal services, such as water and sewer lines.
Once utilities are marked, color-coded flags will indicate their locations: red for electric power lines, yellow for natural gas or oil, orange for communication lines, blue for water and irrigation, and green for sewers and drain lines.
According to Dig Safe, even simple do-it-yourself projects like planting trees, installing mailboxes, or setting fence posts require a call to have utilities marked.
“The most important takeaway is that before any digging, whether by a contractor or homeowner, Dig Safe and municipalities must be contacted so all utilities can be marked in advance,” said Unitil External Affairs Manager Amanda Vicinanzo. “A few minutes of planning can prevent service interruptions, property damage, injuries, and costly repairs. It really makes a difference.”
For more information or to submit a Dig Safe request, visit digsafe.com or call 811. Learn more about the free DigSafe process here.
