Aug. 11 (8/11) Serves as Reminder to Contact 811 Before Digging

Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. hopes today, Aug. 11 or 8-1-1 on the calendar, serves as a natural reminder for residents to contact 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. Every few minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first contacting 811.

At least two days before starting any project that requires digging, homeowners and contractors can call 811 or visit missutility.net to be connected to Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. That call or click issues a FREE request, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators then arrive at the digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both. Once all underground utilities are marked, it is safe to start digging!

Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, inconvenient outages and fines. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants contacting 811 by phone or online. Installing a mailbox, building a deck and planting a tree are just some examples of digging projects that require a free 811 request at least two days before breaking ground.

“On Aug. 11 and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to use the free 811 service before digging to reduce the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said Matt Ruddo, Director of Client Relations at One Call Concepts, Inc. “Protect yourself and those around you from harm and major inconveniences by calling 811 or visiting missutility.net. The service is FREE and the only guaranteed way to know which utilities are buried in your area so that you can dig safely.”

The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches or digging in a location that’s previously been marked, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.

Visit www.MissUtility.net for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.

About Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C.
The Miss Utility notification center is the approved one-call notification center for Miss Utility of Maryland/D.C. (Western Shore Maryland and District of Columbia), and Miss Utility of Delmarva (Eastern Shore Maryland & Delaware). The organization’s purpose is to prevent damage to underground infrastructure by providing one-call services in those areas. Miss Utility also develops educational programs and outreach intended to foster a sense of shared responsibility for the protection of underground facilities during excavation and demolition. For more information, visit www.missutility.net.