Call 811 before digging near lines

Underground Service Alert of Southern California recently announced the launch of a new national 811 "Call Before You Dig" number to help prevent homeowners and professional excavators from damaging underground utility lines while digging and causing injury or service outagesThe new FCC-designated number, 811, was created to eliminate confusion of multiple "Call Before You Dig" numbers across the country.

This onecall service will notify the appropriate underground line owners, who then send locators to the requested site to mark the underground lines that they own and maintain for free.

Risky assumptions about the location of underground lines, some of which can be buried at shallow depths, have led to line damages and injuries. A recent national survey shows that confusion exists among the public as to the necessity of calling before every dig job.

In the survey, roughly half of American homeowners stated that they have done or are planning a major digging project at home, yet only a third have called or planned to call ahead to get their underground lines marked.

For statistics from the recent survey or more information about the 811 service and campaign, visit www.call811.com.