Calling 811 or visiting wvvw.call811.con1 has proven to the foremost preventive measure in excavation safety and damage prevention, according to Fayetteville Public Utilities. Since 2008, National Safe Digging Month has been observed in April to remind homeowners and professionals alike, to do their pail in keeping communities safe.

Research has revealed if a person calls 811 before they dig, they have a 99% chance of avoiding an incident, injury, harm to the environment — even death, according to utility officials.______________________ Hitting an underground utility line while digging can harm the environment, cause serious personal injuries, disrupt service to you and your neighbors and potentially incur fines and repair costs, FPU officials advise.

Underground pipelines and wires can be everywhere. Often made of or encased in plastic, they may be just inches below the surface. That’s why it’s important to call 811 or submit a request online at least three business days before you dig to have your underground utility lines marked for free. You can also visit tenn811.com to submit a locate request online. It’s free; it’s easy; and it’s the law.

Other important information to know includes: • Use only hand tools within 24 inches of each marked utility line to carefully determine its exact location before using any power excavation equipment in the area.

• Report even minor natural gas line damage so the natural gas utility inspects the lines and performs any needed repairs. A slight gouge, scrape or dent to a pipeline or its coating or any component attached to or running alongside the pipe – such as a wire – may cause a future dangerous break or leak.

The following utility color markings can be helpful:

• White — Proposed excavation, • Pink — Temporary survey marker, • Red — Electric power lines, cable, conduit and lighting cables, • Yellow — Gas, oil, steam, petroleum or gaseous materials, • Orange — Communications, alarms, cable or conduit, • Blue — Potable (drinking) water, • Purple — Reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines, and

• Green — Sewer and drain lines.