Underground Utilities

 

Indiana & Illinois law requires all property owners to make an important phone call before doing any digging on their land. Whether you are planting a tree, putting in a new fence or children's playset, or digging for any other reason, it is critical that you call 811 at least 48 hours (2 business days) in advance.

 

By calling 811, utility crews can come to your property and mark the locations of underground utility lines at no charge to you. The markings are done with chalk that rain will eventually wash away. Allowing utility crews to mark line locations will help keep you - or a contractor - from accidentally hitting a gas line, water main or other underground line. This will help keep service to you and your neighbors from being disrupted, and help protect you from expensive repair costs and a potential fine. More importantly, calling before you dig can help protect you from a serious or even fatal injury. Making this brief phone call is important no matter how shallow you dig or how simple your project is, since different utility lines are buried at different depths.

 

Calling before you dig is free. The service is free.
It may save you money. And it may save your life!

 

APWA Uniform Color Codes for temporary marking of underground utilities

 

When utility locaters respond to a dig request, they will mark where the underground facilities are in the area with paint or flags. If there are no underground facilites buried in the area, the locating personnel will notate this as well. This is often done by painting OK on the ground and placing a company flag to indicate which utility company has responded to the request. This does not mean it is OK to dig, but that this particular utility company did not have any undergound utility lines.