FAQ
What exactly is 811?
811 is a FCC-designated national N-11 number for homeowners and professional excavators to call before digging. 811 calls will be directed to the local One Call Center and the affected utilities who will then mark underground lines for free. The national 811 campaign will increase awareness among the public about the importance of having utility lines marked before digging. Digging without calling can lead to severe consequences including harm to diggers, costly damages to underground infrastructure, and utility service disruptions.
Don’t “Call Before You Dig” numbers already exist?
There are multiple “Call Before You Dig” numbers established by the existing 62 One Call Centers, or “Call Before You Dig” centers. The national 811 number will eliminate the confusion of multiple numbers while continuing free and easy local service. In fact, in a recent national survey, nine out of ten (89%) professional excavators agreed that calling before to get utility lines marked is a fast and easy process.
Why should I call 811 before every dig?
Calling 811 will help save lives and protect infrastructure. Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before each digging project begins, helps protect you from injury, expense and penalties. The depth of utility lines varies and there may be multiple utility lines in the same area. Even simple digging projects can damage utility lines and can disrupt vital services to an entire neighborhood, harm diggers, and potentially result in expensive fines and repair costs. Marked lines show diggers the approximate location of underground lines and help prevent undesired consequences.
Why is a national 811 number necessary?
Diggers are aware of “Call Before You Dig” services, but often make risky assumptions about where utility lines are buried or when they should call. In fact, a recent national survey showed that only 33% of homeowner do-it-yourselfers called to have their lines marked before starting digging projects. Simple digging jobs can damage utility lines, which can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood, harm diggers, and potentially cost diggers fines and repair costs. 811 will let diggers know what’s below by always calling before they dig.
I’m just a homeowner, not a contractor—is 811 for me?
Calling 811 is for professional excavators and do-it-yourself homeowners. A recent national survey revealed that roughly half of Americans are “active diggers” who have done (or are planning to do) some type of digging project at home. Whether you are a professional excavator or an avid do-it-yourselfer, you need to call 811 before every dig every time.