Call 811 Before Digging

Gov. Hickenlooper has proclaimed April 2018 as “Dig Safely Month in Colorado.” The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) reminds property owners and contractors to call 811 at least three days before any digging project. You can also submit a request online. Upon receiving the request, local utility companies will be dispatched to the property to mark underground utility lines. “Every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first contacting 811. Striking a single utility line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages,” says the PUC. “Installing a mailbox, building a deck, and planting a tree or garden are all examples of digging projects that should only begin after contacting 811.” The service is free. Go to colorado811.org/ or view the Colorado 811 procedures guide for more information.