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Carson City, NV – With Aug. 11 almost here, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada is reminding homeowners and professionals to contact 811 to have underground utility lines marked prior to any digging projects.
Nevada residents should call the statewide 811 hotline (“Call Before You Dig” program) or place online requests through usanorth811.org two working days before beginning excavation projects. State regulations require contractors to obtain a dig ticket if using mechanical equipment or hand tools. Non-contractors also always need a dig ticket if excavating with mechanical equipment or digging more than 12 inches deep with hand tools. However, it is good practice for everyone to call for a dig ticket whenever excavating, regardless of depth.
A national survey found that 68 percent of Americans plan to tackle a do-it-yourself project involving digging within the next year. However, 27.2 million of them will not contact 811 beforehand, which puts themselves, their neighbors and essential utility services at risk.
In Nevada, about one underground gas line is damaged every day. Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can lead to serious injuries, service outages and expensive repairs. Accidentally striking gas, electric, communications, water or sewer lines can cause significant disruptions to homes and businesses. With summer being a peak time to work on home improvement projects, it’s timelier than ever that residents remember to dig safely.
When utilizing 811, which is a free service, callers are connected to USA North, Nevada’s 811 call center. USA North notifies the appropriate utility companies of the caller’s intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested dig site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, temporary paint, or both. The depth of utility lines can vary for several reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists even when digging only a few inches or digging in a previously marked location.
When natural gas pipelines have been damaged and natural gas is escaping, the following steps are the most important to take:
- Immediately cease work;
- Evacuate the impacted area to minimize the hazard presented by the damaged pipeline;
- Telephone emergency 911 services from a safe area; and
- Contact the utility operator
Nevada Revised Statute 455.140 and Nevada Administrative Code 455.160 require excavators to follow the steps outlined above and not attempt to operate any valve or other device owned by a utility.
For more information about safe digging procedures, please visit call811.com, usanorth811.org, or puc.nv.gov.
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