‘Call 811 Before You Dig’

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – It’s planting season and Mother’s Day is Sunday May 14th. So gardening will be on a lot of people’s minds.

Floral and produce sales are commonly sought after around this time and with people planting they need to be cautious about where to plant. Shane Cartmill the External Affairs Specialist for Columbia Gas of Ohio said people need to call to have their property marked for utility lines before any soil is ever dug up.

“Any time that you’re moving those plants into the ground, you need to dial 811,” Cartmill said. “Not only is it a recommendation, but it’s the law. They will come out within 48 hours to mark the lines. You’re looking at gas lines, water lines, electric cable, and television. You never know what’s underground, so you want to make sure you have those marked.”

Timber Run Gardens has property marked for utility lines marked commonly before projects start, and for those buying flowers, trees, and shrubs for the season to plant in their gardens should get their property marked.

Photo By: Quay DeVoll

“Any time we fear that there is a possibility of hitting a utility line of any kind,” Timber Run Garden Owner Steve Carter said. “We call them and usually within 48 hours we have the lines marked and know where the locations are. So we may have to relocate where we planed on planting.”

Cartmill said too often people will think they know where the utility lines are from previous years or they’re only digging a couple of inches deep, but before they know it they’ve hit a utility line.

“You might know where you think it is, but you might not know exactly,” Cartmill said. “So it’s really important to have them come out and look at it make sure you know exactly where the lines are and you’re not guessing. So it is very important even if you’re doing it year after year that you’re still having those lines marked.”

For more information you can also visit columbiagasohio.com click on the ‘Stay Safe’ tab followed by the ‘Call 811 Before You Dig’ page link.