You might have seen the commercials or ads for Call 811 encouraging you to “Call Before You Dig.” This program, which is free to all, allows you to have someone come out to your property to inspect for buried utility lines prior to any sort of excavation. Representatives from your electrical company, water company, telecommunications company, and sewer company will all be sent to your property and will mark, using flags, spray paint, etc., where their respective lines are located underground.
Calling 811 is not just about asking for permission to dig. It’s also about safety and avoiding any fines for causing damage, because, while having your public utility lines located is free, any damage you causes will not be. You may be on the hook, financially speaking, for the repair of broken pipes or the cost of restoring power to your home.
Why You Might Need a Private Underground Utility Locator in Addition to 811
There is something very important to note, however, when calling the 811 service: they only scan for public utilities. Any private utilities located underground are your responsibility to locate. If you have propane lines, an irrigation system, a water well, an electrical line that goes to a backup generator, or something similar, you will have to pay to bring in a separate company to locate them.
Finding a Private Utility Locator
Fortunately, it is typically not difficult to find an underground utility locator, as there are individuals and companies that specialize in this. There is probably one or more in your area. If you are in Southern California, Enhanced Scanning is a great company to call for expert service and a quick response time. A utility locator will come to your property with their specialty equipment that may include ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic (EM) frequency transmitters and receivers, magnetometers, and more. Once you show them the area where you plan to dig, they will scan that area to tell you where you can safely excavate.
Locating everything that is located beneath the surface of the ground before you begin digging is important for avoiding both damage and injury to the person doing the digging. Hitting a water line can cause expensive damage and make a mess of your property, but hitting gas line could cause an explosion that could very easily kill someone! That’s why a thorough investigation, which may include public and private underground utility locators, is necessary. Even if you’re only digging for new fence posts or a new mailbox in your front yard, calling 811 and a private utility locator is the prudent thing to do.
