Underground utilities could be anywhere, and no project that involves digging is too small or shallow to place a free request to have the approximate location of buried utilities marked out. Anyone planning a digging project in Upstate New York may place a location request to have the approximate location of buried utilities marked for free at UDigNY.org, or by calling 811. (Submitted photo)

EAST SYRACUSE, NY – April is National Safe Digging Month, and UDig NY, the nonprofit that provides the 811 service for 55 New York State counties, has an important message for anyone planning a digging project: Underground utilities could be anywhere, and no project that involves digging is too small or shallow to place a free request to have the approximate location of buried utilities marked out.

Earlier this year, UDig NY, in partnership with the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) and more than a dozen other 811 contact centers across the United States, distributed a survey to excavators and other professionals involved in digging projects. The survey, which received more than 1,800 responses, revealed several disturbing misconceptions. While most excavators surveyed understood what 811 is, close to 10 percent said they do not always contact 811 before digging. Follow-up questions showed that most of the excavators who did not contact 811 chose not to because they believed that their project was too small or too shallow, or they were confident that they already knew the location of buried utilities on their jobsite and could avoid them.

“The results of this survey suggest that while our industry has done a good job raising general awareness of the 811 service, we need to focus on educating the public about the importance of placing a location request for every dig,” said UDig NY President & CEO Kevin Hopper. “No project is too small to notify UDig NY of your intent to dig, and no one should ever assume they know the depth or location of buried utility lines.”

Failure to place a free location request is the direct cause of more than 25 percent of all damage to underground utilities. Even small DIY projects like planting a tree can cause catastrophic damage, injury, and community-wide service outages. This is why it is so important for anyone planning a digging project to place a free location request. Additionally, erosion, settling, and other factors can cause the depth and run of buried lines to shift over time, so it is vital for anyone planning an excavation project to place a location request, even if they have dug in the same area in the past.

Anyone planning a digging project in Upstate New York may place a location request to have the approximate location of buried utilities marked for free at UDigNY.org, or by calling 811. Location requests should be submitted at least two full working days, but not more than 10 days, before the planned project start date.

— Information from UDig NY