Manager’s Report — June 2019
Call 8-1-1 to play it safe when you dig
This is a great time of year to be outdoors enjoying the beautiful weather in the Columbia River Gorge, whether you are out on the river, hiking in the mountains, or just taking care of those projects around the yard that you’ve planned over the winter.
It’s also the time of year when you hear in the news about broken water or sewer pipes because someone forgot to call for an underground facilities locate. Most utility line strikes take place in the summer months when more yard work is being done.
Nationwide, about a quarter of those happen due to insufficient notice to the 8-1-1 service.
Whether you are planting new trees, building a deck, or any other kind of outdoor improvement, if you plan to dig more than a foot below the surface, be sure to call 8-1-1 at least two full business days before you start work.
A call to 8-1-1 connects homeowners and contractors to the Oregon Utility Notification Center, the one-call center, which notifies utility companies of the intent to dig. Locators are then sent to the digging site to mark underground lines with color-coded spray paint or flags.
Locates are free and help avoid the risk of injury, disruption of utility service, and potential liability for repair costs.
Learn more about 8-1-1 service at the Oregon Utility Notification Center website.
At your Northern Wasco County PUD, we’d also like to remind you to look up as well as down while doing yard improvements. Make sure you stay a safe distance away from overhead power lines to avoid risk of injury, and leave tree trimming around power lines to the professionals at Trees, Inc., who work on behalf of the PUD and are specially trained to work around power lines.
Roger Kline
General Manager
