Digging Guidelines and Information
My neighbors have ordered Fios and part of the process is connecting the house back to the fiber optic pipeline. That means that Miss Utility has been out spray painting the ground to mark buried lines. It’s a common occurrence but did you know that you need to make the same call whenever you dig?
Call Before You Dig
Homeowners, professionals, and do-it-yourselfers all need to make the call to have underground utility lines marked before you begin a project. It could be something as simple as planting a tree or building a deck- either way you need to make the call. The depth of utility lines varies and you might be surprised to learn what’s buried in common areas. Damaging underground lines can disrupt service for entire neighborhoods and result in fines and repair costs. There’s no reason not to call. It’s the law and a free service!
Who to Call
Around Maryland, Delaware and DC, Miss Utility is the company that will mark underground lines. In Massachusetts, New Hampshire and surrounding areas, Dig Safe Systems will handle your needs. If you’re not sure who to call, check out 811. They maintain a quick lookup by state or province.
Underground Utility Line Color Code
Different underground lines will be marked by different colors. Here’s the universal color code.
- Red – Electric power lines, distribution and cables
- Orange – Communication, telephone/CATV, etc.
- Blue – Potable water
- Green – Sewer and drainage
- Yellow – Gas, petroleum, oil and gaseous materials
- Purple – Reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines
- White – Proposed excavation site
Digging Guidelines
Things like how long the marks are good for, weekend availability, and necessary notice times vary by state and county. Here in Baltimore County, they require 48 business hours from the time of the request and 18 inches of hand-digging to expose utility lines. Check local guidelines for your area.
What do you think? Have you risked it in the past?
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One Response to Digging Guidelines and Information
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July 28th, 2010 8:50 pm
I frequently hear in the commercials for Miss Utility, “No mechanized digging within 2 feet of markings – that includes even skimming the top.” I have a feeling some folks try to get around the rules by using the bulldozer to “skim a bit” off the top first, and occasionally they go too deep and blow a line… not something that’s worth risking for sure.