Flanked by Alabama 811 staff members, Gov. Kay Ivey signs a proclamation noting April as Safe Digging Month in Alabama. Every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811.

Most property owners have heard the phrase “Call before you dig,” but some local utility chiefs say not everyone heeds the warning.

This month marks the 10th annual National Safe Digging Month, which officials deem to be a great reminder to call 811 at least two days before any digging project. Gov. Kay Ivey recently signed a proclamation noting Safe Digging Month in Alabama.

According to Alabama 811, every nine minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants contacting Alabama 811.

Athens Gas Department Manager Steve Carter said an average of about 20 gas lines are damaged each year by contractors or residents who didn’t call 811. He explained that while it may seem like an inconvenience to wait, it protects the digger in a variety of ways.

“There’s the danger of harm and bodily injury but also the danger of a huge bill if you hit a fiber cable,” he said.

In January, a contractor using a track hoe hit a high-pressure natural gas line near the intersection of U.S. 31 and Huntsville-Browns Ferry Road. Though no one was injured in that near-catastrophe, Carter recalled a situation several years ago with a different outcome.

“There was a dozer fire that burned up the dozer and injured the operator,” he said. “People don’t understand that plastic pipe carries static electricity, and it only takes 3,000 volts of static electricity to ignite the gas.”

If a contractor or homeowner can wait two days, Carter urged them to do so. He said line locations can be done in less than 48 hours if it is an emergency situation.

Both his department and Athens Utilities each have two full-time utilities locators on staff. Carter said there were 15,000 line location requests last year and his department sometimes receives 50 to 60 calls per day.

“People need to understand to call before they dig anything, even if it’s just a mailbox or anywhere around the house,” he said.

Athens Electric Department Manager Blair Davis said most of his location calls come from contractors or other utility companies trying to repair a water leak. Like Carter, he said safety is the main reason why someone should call 811, but he also wants to protect underground power lines from damage.

“The third part is, if you don’t call before you dig, you can be held responsible for the damage that occurs,” he said.

The Limestone County Water & Sewer Authority board voted in December to become members of the state 811 system. Daryl Williamson, chief executive officer of the utility, explained it’s already proved beneficial because fewer water lines have been hit.

The utility began marking lines Jan. 22 and completed 1,364 requests through March 30.

How it works

When calling 811, or placing online requests through www.al811.com, homeowners and contractors are connected to Alabama 811, which notifies member utility companies of their intent to dig. Locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of member underground lines with flags, paint or both.

If there are utility owners in the area of excavation who do not participate as a member of Alabama 811, the excavator is responsible for contacting them on an individual basis.

The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Alabama 811 officials say utility lines should be marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.

“As April marks the traditional start of digging season, we are using this month to strongly encourage individuals and companies to contact 811 before they begin and digging project,” said Annette Reburn, executive director, Alabama 811. “By contacting 811 to have the underground utility lines in their area marked, homeowners and professionals are making an important decision that can help keep them and their communities safe and connected.”