Be shovel-ready. Dig? Call 811 before you dig!

 

It’s tempting to break ground in your eagerness to start an outdoor project like building a fence, planting a tree, building a deck or adding a room – even getting your underground water lines worked on. But do you know what lies underground where you plan to dig? Natural gas pipelines and other utility lines weave beneath the surface throughout our community. Major gas transmission pipelines are marked with a yellow caution sign or marker. But secondary lines and distribution lines aren’t as easily identifiable.

Don’t risk hitting a gas line, disrupting neighborhood service, risking an explosion, and facing potential fines and repair costs. Before you start digging, contact Tennessee One Call by calling 811 to request that professional locating crews mark the underground utility lines on your property. The service is free, and it is federally and state mandated.

Almost 60 percent of natural gas pipeline accidents are caused by damage from excavation, digging or construction. Other causes include rare damage by vehicles or corrosion. In fact, every 6 minutes a utility line is hit because someone didn't call 811. A national survey revealed that 42 percent of homeowners who plan to dig each year won’t call 811, putting their families, neighbors and their communities at risk.

April is National Safe Digging Month across the country. It’s not only a time for spring planting and outdoors projects, it’s also a time to remind ourselves to always call 811 before digging. Many of us have been staying home or working from home since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and may decide to commence digging or construction projects while at home, so it’s even more important than ever. Stay safe – keep your neighbors safe!

Whenever you plan to dig on your property, have your home or property’s underground gas lines – and all other utility lines including electric, water and cable – located and marked with colored paint, even for spring planting or fence post digging.

Call 811 first in order to have your underground gas, electric, water and cable lines located and marked. Failure to do so could result in an explosion (or electrocution). Plus, it’s the law, and it’s FREE.

Simply call 811 at least three business days/72 hours before you plan to dig to arrange for a representative to come out and mark the location of your underground pipes and cables. Don’t dig until they have done so. Also, make sure your contractor for any construction or digging projects on your property always call 811 to have your underground utilities located and marked. You can take a photo of the markings, but always call again for future digs.

MLGW’s Board, Tennessee Governor Lee, and both Memphis and Shelby County mayors have issued Proclamations to recognize April as Safe Digging Month when we should remind ourselves to keep our communities safe by always calling 811 whenever digging is scheduled.

For more info on natural gas safety, visit mlgw.com/about/brochures for gas safety information including our omnibus Natural Gas Safety brochure, Natural Gas Safety: Protecting Your Family and Home, with all the gas safety info you’ll need. Let’s keep our communities safe.