Know Where the Underground Lines are Buried

April is National Safe Digging Month. Before you dig, remember to call 811 to have underground utility lines marked.

Are you planning an outdoor project that involves digging? Your property may contain underground utility lines. Call 811 before you dig. Knowing where utility lines are buried can help you avoid injury, service outages and costly repairs.

Call 811 from anywhere in the country a few days prior to digging, and you'll be routed to your local call center. Tell the operator where you'll be digging, what type of work you're doing and when. Within just a few days, your local utility companies will visit your site and mark the location of any underground lines, free of charge.

Each utility type is marked with a specific color:

The dirt on 811

Who is behind the 811 number? The 811 campaign is operated by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an association created to work with the utility industry to prevent damage to underground utility infrastructure and ensure public safety. Although a private association, CGA grew out of a U.S. Department of Transportation initiative.