Aug. 11 (8/11) Serves as a Reminder to Call 811 Before You Dig

Miss Utility/District One Call wants to remind everyone that today, Aug. 11 or 8-1-1 on the calendar serves as a natural reminder for residents to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked. With more people completing outdoor DIY projects, and summer being a peak time to work on that home improvement to-do list, it’s more timely than ever that residents remember to dig safely.

Every few minutes, an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first contacting Miss Utility/District One Call by dialing 8-1-1 or visiting MissUtility.net. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, inconvenient outages and fines. With more people staying home and relying on their utilities to work and communicate, inconvenient outages are important to avoid. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants contacting 811 by phone or online. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are just some examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting.

When calling 811, homeowners and contractors in Maryland and D.C. are connected to Miss Utility/District One Call, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Requests can also be made online at www.MissUtility.net. Professional locators then arrive at the digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both.

“Safe digging is important every day of the year, but on Aug. 11 or 811 Day, we like to take the opportunity to emphasize the importance of utilizing the free 811 service before digging to reduce the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said Scott Brown, Washington Gas Damage Prevention and chair of the Miss Utility board of directors. “With everyone still spending more time at home than ever, it has never been more important for homeowners and professional contractors alike to contact Miss Utility/District One Call by dialing 811 or visiting www.MissUtility.net. Making this crucial call or click is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area and ensure that you’re digging 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/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.