Gov. Larry Hogan Proclaims April Safe Digging Month

Gov. Hogan recently proclaimed April as Safe Digging Month to serve as a reminder for homeowners and contractors to practice safe digging. In observance of the nationally recognized initiative, Miss Utility/District One Call – the one-call notification center for Western Shore Maryland and Washington, D.C. – today announced results from a recent national survey which revealed that a third of U.S. homeowners (33%) reported experiencing a utility service interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The survey, which was conducted by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) – the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities – also discovered that of the 19.5 million U.S. homeowners who plan to dig this year for projects like gardening, building a fence or deck, installing a mailbox and more, nearly two in five (37%) will put themselves and their communities at risk by digging without contacting 811 beforehand to learn the approximate location of underground utilities. Neglecting to contact 811 before digging can result in serious injuries, inconvenient service disruptions and costly repairs when gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines are damaged. Making one free call can help maintain essential utility services and keep communities safe, by reducing the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines.

“Millions of homeowners are using their extra time at home to complete projects that require digging, so it's of the utmost importance that they contact Miss Utility/District One Call and have buried utilities marked prior to starting their project, even if it’s just planting a garden or installing a mailbox,” said Dora Parks, manager of client relations at Miss Utility/District One Call. "Calling 811 or visiting www.MissUtility.net is a free service and is crucial in helping keep communities safe and connected to the critical utility services we all rely on every day.”

As part of National Safe Digging Month, Miss Utility/District One Call encourages homeowners to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

• Always contact Miss Utility/District One Call a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
• Plan ahead. Call 811 or visit www.MissUtility.net on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
• Confirm that all lines have been marked.
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted Miss Utility/District One Call. Don't allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked.
• Visit www.MissUtility.net for complete info.

About Miss Utility/District One Call

The Miss Utility notification center is the approved one-call notification center for Miss Utility, (Western Shore Maryland), District One Call, (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.

About the study

SSRS conducted a national omnibus phone study between Feb. 23-28, 2021, on behalf of CGA. A total of 720 American homeowners ages 18+ were asked for their opinions on home and property improvement project topics. The survey had a margin of error of +/- 3.65 at the 95% confidence level.