National 811 Day is August 11 (8/11), a great reminder to click va811.com or call 811 to check for underground utility lines every time before you dig.
It doesn’t matter the size of the project or how much you’re digging. You might be a contractor with an excavator to dig a trench. Or a homeowner with a shovel digging a hole for a mailbox.
Whatever the case, click or call Virginia 811 (VA811).
Contacting VA811 to locate underground utilities is free and the law. It connects you with local utility companies so they can mark underground lines such as electric, water, gas, or fiber. Across the REC territory last year, 80 outages were the result of digs by customers or contractors. Many of those probably could have been avoided if the person had called VA811 beforehand.
Don’t be the neighbor or contractor who cuts the internet, water, or potentially much more dangerous lines leading to injuries or worse. Be sure to submit a ticket online or call at least three days before you dig to make sure utility companies can mark their lines.
Remember this acronym: C.A.R.E.
- Click or call before you dig. Simply dial 811 or visit va811.com three working days before your digging project starts.
- Allow required time. Don’t jump the gun and dig before utilities respond and mark their pipes and cables with flags or spray paint.
- Respect the marks. Don’t dig around marked lines or flags using anything but hand tools such as shovels or vacuum excavation methods. This ensures safety and lowers the risk of damage.
- Excavate Keep the marks visible. If they’re faded or disturbed during the project, contact VA811 to refresh them. If you find a damaged line or small gas:
- Stop work immediately.
- Move to safety.
- Call 911.
- Then call the utility’s emergency line.
The most important thing is to remember to dig safely – on August 11 and every day.
