FRANKLIN

Saturday, Aug. 11, was Call Before You Dig Awareness Day, and according to spokeswoman Bonita B. Harris, Dominion Energy is using the date as an opportunity to remind customers to call “8-1-1” prior to any digging project. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811 in order to prevent injury, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages.

Did you know that…

• Underground utility lines are struck by accident every six minutes in the US.

• More than 20 million miles of underground utility lines crisscross farmlands, suburban backyards and urban streets across the United States.

• The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces.

• Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811.

811 recommends the following for homeowners and contractors:

• Plan ahead: Always call 8-1-1 at least three business days before digging and allow time for making, regardless of the depth of the dig or familiarity with the property.

• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that a call to 811 has been made.

• After you see paint markings or flags, but before you start to dig, confirm with the call center that all utilities have responded and marked their lines.

• Consider moving your project if it is near utility line markings.

For more information on safe digging, visit https://www.dominionenergy.com/company/safety/call-before-you-dig.