Don’t make a judgment call, make a phone call.
Aug. 11 (8/11) serves as a natural reminder for district customers to call 811 two to three business days prior to any digging project.
811 is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that connects excavators with underground facility owners in order to prevent unintentional strike of underground utility lines.
Every six minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811.
Striking an underground utility line while digging can cause harm to you or those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, and potentially result in fines and repair costs. Every digging project, from simple landscaping projects to building a deck, warrants a call to 811.
More on the 811 process:
- Call 811 two to three business days prior to a planned dig and your call will automatically be routed to your local one call center.
- Give the operator information about how to contact you, where you are planning to dig, and what type of work you will be doing. Your conversation with the operator should last just a few minutes.
- Utility companies who have potential facilities in the area of your dig site will be notified about your intent to dig.
- Each affected utility company will send a locator to mark the approximate location of your underground utility lines.
- Respect the marks and dig carefully.
To learn more, visit colorado811.org.
