WILMINGTON, MA — Planning home improvements? Planting a tree? Installing a fence or deck? Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, a safe job starts with a call to Dig Safe at 811. Dig Safe is a non-for-profit clearinghouse that notifies participating utility companies of your plans to dig. Utilities respond to mark out the location of their underground facilities. Dig Safe is a free service, funded entirely by its member utility companies.
State law requires you to notify Dig Safe for even small projects, like installing a mailbox or planting shrubs. The depth of utility lines vary and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Call 811 to avoid utility service disruption to an entire neighborhood, harm to you and those around you, as well as fines and repair costs. To begin:
- “Pre-mark” where you plan to dig before making the call to 811. When utility company representatives arrive to mark their lines, pre-marking provides visual boundaries to help guide them in placing their marks where you need them.
- Be prepared with required information needed to process a locate request.
- Call 811 in advance. The call center is open Monday through Friday, 6:00am to 6:00pm. Massachusetts State law requires you give at least 72 hours notice – not including weekends and legal holidays. A Dig Safe ticket number will be provided as proof of notification.
- Notify non-member facility owners
- Wait the required time. After notifying Dig Safe, you must wait 72 hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays. During this time, utility representatives respond to mark their lines. They use a uniform color code system so the type of facility is identified.
- Respect the marks. Pipes, cables and wires can be buried at any depth, so it can be risky to dig in close proximity of a buried line. The laws of five New England states observe a Safety Zone requirement. Use of mechanized equipment is prohibited when digging within 18 inches of a buried facility, you must dig by hand, carefully, to avoid damage.
- Maintain the marks. Make sure the utility marks stay intact during your project. If the marks are compromised for any reason, call Dig Safe back at 811. In Massachusetts, the work must start within 30 days from the date of the issue. Beyond this point, tickets are valid indefinitely, provided that the marks are maintained and the work is continuous.
Visit http://www.digsafe.com/index.php for detailed information.
(NOTE: The above announcement is from the July-September 2016 Town Topics Newsletter.)
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