That Important Summer Call
The return of summery weather means more homeowners are working on outdoor projects and more contractors are gearing up for their busy season of road and construction work. Northern Wasco County PUD work crews are out in the field at all times of the year, so we know the importance of calling for an 811 underground utility locate before every digging project.
Calling those three simple digits helps ensure that all underground utilities are properly marked, no matter whether you are breaking ground on a weekend digging project or major construction. Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, fines, and inconvenient outages.
When calling 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to the Oregon 811 Utility Notification Center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint.
Every digging project, regardless of depth, warrants a call to Oregon 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that should include a call to 811 before they begin.
The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.
Summer may officially start in June, but good outdoor project weather doesn’t wait until then. We want to remind homeowners and contractors alike to call 811 before digging to eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line.
Visit digsafelyoregon.com for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.
Thank you,
Roger Kline
General Manager