As spring temperatures beckon homeowners and contractors to embark on outdoor projects, Atmos Energy emphasizes the importance of a crucial step before any soil is turned: Contacting 811 to avoid the dangers of unintentionally hitting underground utilities. National Safe Digging Month, observed throughout April, serves as a reminder to prioritize safety and damage prevention to subterranean infrastructure.
Temperatures are on the rise, and with the thaw comes the annual resurgence of digging and landscaping endeavors. Whether it's planting a tree, erecting a fence, or installing a pool, the urge to improve our living spaces is tempered by the responsibility to prevent disruptions and peril associated with severing underground lines. Atmos Energy warns against these hazards, citing the ease of making a free request either online or by phone a few days before digging, a protocol designed to keep communities running smoothly and fend off potential mishaps.
According to the City of Arlington, Texas, the most common projects anticipated by surveyed homeowners include planting greenery, building fences, decks, and patios, and setting up mailboxes and pools. These activities, while seemingly innocuous, can intersect disastrously with the hidden maze of utilities beneath our feet if not managed with due caution.
Atmos Energy advocates for a series of preventative steps, from contacting 811 well in advance to confirming all utility lines have been duly marked. The company also advises to reconsider project sites close to such markings and to verify that contractors, if employed, have fulfilled their 811 obligations, digging should never commence unless this critical box has been ticked.
The system in place, when 811 is dialed, connects individuals to a local call notification center, initiating a process where the caller's information is relayed to utility companies. Professional locators then visit the site to indicate the approximate locations of underground pipes and cables, making it secure to dig around these marked zones.
