Call Before You Dig this 811 Day!

ZANESVILLE, OH – 8/11 isn’t just a date, it’s also an important reminder for homeowners to call ahead if they’re planning an outdoor digging project.

Erica Chronaberry, the Director of Communications with Columbia Gas of Ohio, says you should always make a call to 811 at least two full business days before you begin an underground project.

She says all homeowners need to do is make the call, provide some details and then a professional locator will come out to mark your property lines.

“People should always call in before digging projects because you never know what utility lines are hidden underneath the ground.” Chronaberry said. “You know, you have live gas lines, electric lines, fiber lines, cable, all those lines that are underneath the ground, you don’t know where they’re at necessarily and you don’t want to hit them. So that’s why it’s important to have those lines marked.”

Chronaberry says some of these outdoor projects could include installing new fencing, planting trees, or building a deck.

She says it’s very important to contact a professional locator or else you could be in some trouble with your neighbors.

“I think this time of year, where fall is right around the corner, and I think people are really pushing to get those last minute, outdoor projects done, I think they’re in a hurry, and they think maybe if I skip this step, it’ll save some time.” Chronaberry said. “But in the long run, you could damage an underground line, you could cause an outage, you could be on the hook for costly repairs. So when you think you’re really just skipping a step to save yourself some time, it will not turn out the way you think in the end.”

If you are planning an outdoor project before the summer is over, call 811 or head to Columbia Gas of Ohio’s website.