Locate That Line Before Digging
Community policies that direct utilities to provide service through buried lines benefit neighborhoods and business parks with an enhanced appearance while minimizing the risk of weather related power outages.
Buried Hazards
An important trade off is the possibility of accidental line strikes during excavation if the line is not located before digging. Hitting a line while digging, even for something as simple as installing a fence post or planting a tree can be dangerous and cause service outages for the homeowner and their neighbors. Underground utility lines professionally installed either by digging a trench or by precision boring by contractors such as cabling services Boca Raton FL are expected to provide reliable service for many years.
Right-of-way corridors and property easements can carry power lines and internet cables as well as natural gas or hazardous liquid pipes. Other buried services include water mains and domestic freshwater lines as well as storm drains and sewers. While warning markers are required for gas and oil pipelines, buried conduits, cables and pipes are often not permanently marked and liable to be hit if the line has not been located prior to digging.
Colors Tell the Story
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission has designated 811 as the phone number for requesting utility line location services.
Line locations are marked with pin flags or spray-painted markers in uniform colors that are standard in the U.S. and Canada. Flag colors and marker stripe colors designate the type of line located below.
- Red – power lines, cables and conduits.
- Orange – telecommunications, cables and alarm and signal lines.
- Yellow – natural gas, oil, petroleum, steam or other gaseous or flammable material.
- Green – sewer or drain lines.
- Blue – drinking water lines.
- Purple – reclaimed water, irrigation or slurry lines.
- Pink – temporary locate or unknown lines.
- White – proposed excavation limits or route marker.
Underground line locator service is free for homeowners and required by law in most states.
