Stay Safe When Digging

Unitil, a provider of natural gas and electricity to customers in New England, is reminding customers and contractors that August 11 is National 811 Safe Digging Day, an annual designation to increase awareness to contact Dig Safe before starting any digging or excavating projects.

State law requires even homeowners to have underground utilities marked before digging in their yard, regardless of the size or scope of work. The service is free and requests for a Dig Safe ticket can be done online at digsafe.com or by calling 811.

"For both homeowners and contractors, it is very important to contact Dig Safe prior to starting any project that requires digging. The utility companies will have representatives come out and mark underground electric wires and natural gas pipes," said Unitil External Affairs Director Alec O'Meara.

Once the utilities are marked, homeowners will see different color flags on the ground. Red flags are for electric power lines, cables and conduit. Yellow is for natural gas, oil or gaseous materials. Orange is for communication lines such as cable TV, alarm or signal lines. Blue is for water and irrigation. Green is for sewers and drain lines.

According to Dig Safe, even simple, do-it-yourself projects such as planting trees, and installing mailboxes or posts for a fence, require a call so utilities can be marked. The lone exception is for help identifying municipal services, such as water and sewer lines. In these cases, homeowners and contractors must contact a town or city directly for location assistance.

"Failing to notify Dig Safe before starting even a small project, can result in damage to underground wires and gas lines, causing outages, safety hazards, and costly repairs," said Dig Safe's Public Relations Director Lisa Powers. "Submitting a Dig Safe ticket at digsafe.com or 811 is a crucial step that can prevent serious issues and ensure safety."