What 811 does
811 connects you to the one-call center for your state. You tell them where you plan to dig, and they notify the utilities that have lines in the area. Each sends a locator to mark its buried lines with paint or flags.
Who must call
Anyone who digs should call, from a homeowner planting a tree to a contractor trenching a street. Even a small hole for a fence post can hit a shallow line. State rules require excavators to call, and common sense says the same to everyone.
Timing
Calling too late is the most common mistake. Marking takes several working days, and the marks have a limited life. Check the current waiting time and the ticket length when you call.
What the colors mean
Red marks electric, yellow gas, orange communications, blue water, green sewer and drain, pink survey marks and white proposed excavation. Colors help you know what a line is, not exactly how deep it runs.
What is not marked
Public utilities mark their lines up to the meter. Private lines, such as irrigation, lighting, gas to a grill and power to outbuildings, are the owner responsibility. A private locating service can find them.
If you hit a line
Stop work. For gas or electric, leave the area and call emergency services and the utility. For water, shut off the water if you can do so safely and call. Never try to fix a damaged line yourself.
Call 811, wait for the marks, hand dig near them and call us to pothole when you are unsure.
