Spring Project? Call 811 Before You Dig

Ankeny continues to grow and there is already construction everywhere!  Spring is just around the corner and many homeowners are already planning outdoor projects or home improvements.  All Iowans are required by law to notify Iowa One Call at least 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays) prior to any type of digging or excavating.  Homeowners and private residents are not exempt from making this notification.  The good news is that the service is fast and free!  Simply dial “811” and an Iowa One Call representative will help you complete the notification.  You will then need to wait 48 hours for the utility companies to mark their buried lines on your property before you carefully start digging around the paint and flags.

Why is this is important?  There is a complex web of underground utility lines that is invisible to most residents. Damage to these buried utility lines can put you, your family or even our community at risk.  Imagine what could happen if you accidentally cut the underground electric line to your home.  Not only could this result in serious injury or death, but you would also be responsible for the costly repairs.  Likewise, gas lines can also be lethal if broken and can even explode further down the line. Buried telephone cables and fiber optic lines may seem less significant, but damages can isolate entire communities from emergency 911 services.

Here are a few examples of when you must call 811 before you dig: planting trees or shrubs, building a patio, deck or home addition, installing a water drainage system, a water feature, concrete work such as a driveway or sidewalk, pounding stakes or posts into the ground, putting up a fence or doing landscaping work.  It’s important to note that the person doing the work must (by law) make the call, so if you have hired someone to do this- they are responsible for calling 811.  Note that this free service does not include private buried lines such as drainage tile, irrigation systems, invisible dog fences or buried gas grill lines.

If you are a professional excavator in the Ankeny area, make sure you take advantage of attending the 2013 Damage Prevention Summit at the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities in Ankeny on April 9-10. This free event will showcase the 811 bike and provide an opportunity to network with subject matter experts, industry professionals and equipment manufacturers/vendors, review trends in the industry and discuss emerging processes. For more info, goto: www.commongroundiowa.com.

Please protect yourself and the Ankeny community- always make the free call to 811 before you dig!  For more information, goto:  www.iowaonecall.com  or www.call811.com.