How to Locate Underground Pipelines and Cables Before You Dig
It is the law in most states that you have to call before you dig. Here is how to locate gas, water and other lines that may be buried in the area you plan to dig in. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Start by being informed and armed with the right phone numbers. It is the law in most states and in Canada, that you must call before digging in any public area, or private property where a pipeline or other buried utility line has an easement. The number to call in most parts of the United States and Canada is 811. You can also visit the site for Dig Safe, which services the Northeast, but also lists state by state call info. In Texas you should call One Call at 1-800-254-4545.
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Contact the landowner as well as calling 811. If you are the owner of the property, you will most likely know if there is a utility easement across your land, but if you are in doubt call 811 or your local number that you can find on Dig Safe's website below. When working on public property or right of ways, always call. If you damage a pipeline by digging you may cause death or injury to yourself or others. If you cut a phone company fiber optic cable, and did not call first, you could be liable for thousands of dollars of repair costs.
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Look around on private property for pipeline signs such as the one above. In addition to contacting Dig Safe, One Call, or whatever your local system is named by dialing 811 or the number for your state, you should ask the landowner if he knows of any private, non listed lines that may be buried. These include water, gas and electric lines to outbuildings, barns, chicken coops, etc. These will not be listed in any database so use caution on private property when excavating or digging holes.
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Locate non listed private utility lines by contacting the current or former owners of the property. Use common sense. If an outbuilding or barn has electricity and no overhead wires, there is an underground line somewhere.
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