Make Sure You Miss Those Utility Lines During Your Next Digging Project


Being able to locate underground utilities in Utah is the first step in any digging project. Knowing to call 811 will ensure that you are digging safely. This will save you and the utility companies a lot of time and money. 

How to Miss Utilities When Digging in Your Yard

Missing utilities that run through your yard is a difficult task.  As a home ages, services are added to the house, trenches are dug, and earth or sod laid over the top.  The trench location is quickly forgotten.  When a home passes from one owner to another, utility locations are typically not transmitted to the new owner.  

Fortunately, you can often find the location of major utilities--water, power, sewer, and gas--by means of a locating company that offers its services for free.

Common Scenarios Where You Might Hit Utility Lines

What Those Pavement Markings Mean

Plan for the locator service to show up at least 2 days before you intend to dig, but no more than 28-30 days before.  

The two days' lead is required to give the locator company time to show up.

 The 28 to 30 expiration date is put in place because pavement markings will eventually wear or wash off.  Also, new utilities may be added between the time of location and the time of digging.

  • White - Proposed excavation
  • Pink - Survey markings
  • Red - Electric
  • Yellow - Gas, oil, steam
  • Orange - Communications, alarms
  • Blue - Potable water
  • Purple - Reclaimed water, irrigation
  • Green - Sewer

Service Lines You Might Still Miss

Yards may contain many other lines that are considered buried services.  They cannot be called utilities because they do not come from or lead to the the utility company's larger service.

These smaller services may include:

  1. Irrigation pipes
  2. Low-voltage landscape light wiring
  3. Line-voltage conduit or cable feeding exterior lights
  4. Electric cable for outside spas and pools or lights

In these cases, proceed with caution and call a company that serves the relevant trade for help.  For example, electricians may help you figure out the path of wiring that feeds from the service panel to a detached electrified workshop.

Read the full article here: How to Miss Utilities When Digging in Your Yard http://bit.ly/2wC4qpD


Originally Posted right here: Make Sure You Miss Those Utility Lines During Your Next Digging Project

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