April 29, 2009

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Gov. Gregoire has signed a proclamation declaring May Washington Utility Damage Prevention Month. As people plan various garden and home-improvement projects this spring, state regulators want to remind residents to always call 811 before digging. Whether it’s planting a tree, installing a mailbox or building a fence, homeowners and contractors need to know where buried utility lines are located.

The governor’s proclamation encourages residents to call the 811 utility-locating service two business days before they dig. The 811 hotline is a free service to obtain important information on what utilities exist beneath the excavation area. Buried electrical lines or natural gas pipes can be dangerously close to the surface. Accidental contact with a shovel or backhoe could be risky, and even fatal.

“If you don’t call 811 two days before digging and damage an underground utility you could face triple the cost of repairs and losses,” said Jeff Goltz, chairman of the state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC), which regulates privately-owned utility companies in Washington state. “This past February a contractor digging on Mercer Island failed to call for a utility locate. He dug into the underground utilities, damaging the lines and leading to the evacuation of two residences. Incidents such as these are not only dangerous for the individual, but also to surrounding neighborhoods and residents.”

In 2007, nearly 2,800 damage incident were reported due to individuals digging up gas pipelines in Washington. More than 110 of these incidents resulted in significant gas leaks. These dangerous accidents could have been prevented with one simple call to the 811 Utilities Underground Locating Center.

Washington law requires individuals to call 811 at least two days before the start of any project that includes digging twelve inches or more into the ground. After the request is made, a utility representative will physically identify the location of underground utilities with above ground, color-coded markings at no charge. Once the locate is complete, it is recommended to dig carefully around the marked areas with a hand tool.

By having the underground utilities marked, people who dig can reduce the risk of striking a line causing outages, damages and fatalities.

If you experience trouble with a utility locate – if the locate is late, incomplete or inaccurate - please call the UTC Consumer Help Line at 1-888-333-WUTC (9882).