Gov. Holcomb recently signed a proclamation declaring April 2023 as National Safe Digging Month in the state of Indiana. This month is dedicated to increasing awareness of safe digging practices across Indiana and reminding homeowners to make a free request to Indiana 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects.
According to a recent survey by the Common Ground Alliance - the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them and their communities - 74% of U.S. homeowners plan to dig on their property this year. Of those who are planning projects, more than 49.3 million Americans will put themselves and their communities at risk by not contacting 811 before digging.
Visit Indiana811.org to submit a request online, or call 811 at least two full working days prior to digging to allow a professional locator to visit the property and mark the approximate location of the underground utility lines.
Anyone planning to dig should follow the five important steps for getting utilities marked:
Plan the project
Contact Indiana 811
Wait for the marks
Confirm the marks and finally
Dig with care.
The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.
Striking a utility line while digging can lead to injury, penalties, repair costs and inconvenient outages. Consider this is a friendly reminder to contact Indiana 811 before you dig in April and every other month of the year.