It’s the law! Call 811 before you dig around on your property

In recognition of 811 Day on Aug. 11, Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative and VA811, also known as Miss Utility of Virginia, remind homeowners and contractors to call 811, or 800-552-3120, before digging to landscape, build decks, or do anything that could damage underground utility equipment. Calling 811 before digging is the law.

Hitting or cutting underground electric and fiber-optic cables, or gas, water, and sewer lines, could disrupt services in an entire neighborhood, and incur repair costs and fines. More importantly, inadvertent contact could cause injury or death. 

VA811 says, “Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting.”

Homeowners with digging projects should call 811 or enter a ticket using the single-address-ticket system at sat.va811.com at least three business days before starting a project. The center will notify utility companies, which will send professional locators to a property to mark underground utility equipment with spray paint, flags, or both.

VA811 says, “This free service is essential for protecting Virginia’s underground infrastructure.”

For more information, go to http://www.novec.com/safety or http://va811.com.