Columbia Gas reminds customers to contact 811 during National Safe Digging Month

Warmer temperatures and the arrival of spring typically signal the beginning of outdoor projects – everything from installing a mailbox or planting a tree to building a deck or putting in a new fence. April is National Safe Digging Month, and Columbia Gas of Maryland reminds homeowners and contractors that before starting any outdoor digging projects, they must contact 811 to have underground utilities marked.

A recent national survey found that more than 27 million homeowners planning do-it-yourself digging and excavation projects will not contact 811, which puts themselves, their neighbors and essential utility services at risk.

“Every digging project, no matter how big or small, requires contacting 811 at least three business days before digging begins by calling 811 or visiting MissUtility.net,” said Mark Kempic, Columbia Gas of Maryland president and chief operating officer. “It’s free, and it’s the law.”

Striking a single line can cause costly repairs, inconvenient outages, steep fines and even injuries. When contacting 811, homeowners and contractors in Maryland are connected to the Miss Utility system, which notifies the appropriate utility companies to mark the approximate location of underground utilities lines with colored flags, spray paint, or both. Each color of paint or flag indicates which type of utility is underground and where to avoid digging. The flags may be removed once the project is fully complete.

Safe Digging Steps for Homeowners

To prevent utility damage and ensure safety, Columbia Gas urges homeowners to follow these key steps before starting any digging project:

• Contact 811 by calling 811 or visiting MissUtility.net at least three business days before the start of the digging project or excavation, regardless of the project size or depth.
• Plan ahead – submit a free 811 request early in the week for weekend projects, ensuring enough time for marking.
• Confirm all utility lines are marked before beginning work.
• Adjust project plans if necessary – consider relocating projects if they are too close to marked utility lines.
• Verify that hired contractors have contacted 811, and ensure they have requested utility markings before any work begins.

“By spreading awareness and encouraging responsible digging practices, we can keep communities safe and prevent unnecessary utility disruptions,” added Kempic.