RAPID CITY, SD – Aug. 8, 2019 – As the summer season continues and the ground is ready for digging, eager do-it-yourself residents and contractors are jumping into projects. Whether putting in a fence, planting a tree or building a deck, knowing where the utility lines are before you dig helps prevent injuries, property damage and inconvenient utility outages.
A recent national survey by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) revealed that 42 percent of homeowners who plan to dig this year for projects like landscaping, installing a fence or mailbox, building a deck, pond or patio and other DIY projects, will put themselves and their communities at risk by not calling 811 a few days beforehand to learn the approximate location of underground utilities. CGA is a national advocacy organization focused on preventing damage to underground infrastructure.
Contacting 811 notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Utility representatives are then sent free of charge to the requested digging sites to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. For information on safe digging best practices and other damage prevention information visit www.sdonecall.com.
“Public safety and the welfare of work crews and our employees are always our first concern,” said Nick Gardner, vice president of electric operations for Black Hills Energy in South Dakota and northeast Wyoming region, “Whether your project is big or small, safe digging is critical to avoid an unsafe incident.”
There are severe penalties attached to non-compliance with the Call Before You Dig laws. Striking an underground utility line could leave you with the bill for expensive repairs to public or private property, to blame for a service outage to a neighborhood or entire community, or responsible for grave injury to everyone within a wide area.
Black Hills Energy encourages homeowners, contractors and professional excavators to follow all safe digging guidelines and remember these tips to remain safe:
Call or click before you dig
When starting an outdoor digging project, customers are advised to dial 811 or visit www.sdonecall.com to request to have underground utility lines marked two working days before the planned work. Requests to have utility operators mark underground lines, including natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone and cable lines, can be made 24-hours a day, seven days a week and is free.
Mark your planned dig site and allow the required time for utility marking
Before doing any digging, mark your planned dig site with white flags or spray paint, then call 811 or visit the website and wait the required time to have underground utility lines marked. The approximate location of underground utility lines will be marked with color-coded spray paint, flags or stakes that correspond to the utility. The color used for electric is red and natural gas is yellow.
Respect the marks
Only use hand digging tools to carefully uncover the area around a utility when you need to dig close to the marks. Use extreme care around natural gas facilities. Just a nick on a gas pipeline can create a weak spot that may develop into a leak. Here are the color code marks for South Dakota underground utility lines:
Don’t rely on old line locate marks
Project delays? If you don’t dig within 10 days of having the lines marked, contact 811 again. At no charge, line locators will gladly return to re-mark the lines as quickly as possible. Never rely on outdated information.
If a natural gas line is damaged accidentally or you smell the distinctive rotten-egg odor associated with natural gas, leave the area and then call 911 or your local natural gas utility. Do not operate any machinery or equipment that might cause a spark or create an open flame.
For more information about electrical and natural gas safety, visit www.blackhillsenergy.com