Hold that shovel! Saturday, August 11, 2012, is National 811 Day, a day to remind anyone about to dig or engage in any excavation activity that could damage underground utilities to call (811) before getting started.
“Tennessee law requires that citizens notify Tennessee 811 prior to starting any kind of work that would involve digging below the earth’s surface,” says the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) Chairman Kenneth Hill. “It’s a free service and takes just minutes to call.”
By calling 811, excavators and homeowners are connected to their local one-call center representative who then notifies the appropriate utility company of their intent to dig. Representatives are then sent to the proposed dig site to mark the locations where the utility lines are located.
“Sixty percent of damages to underground utilities are caused by digging, but this percentage can be reduced by calling 811 first.” says Hill. “It’s a useful service that can protect citizens from injury, damage to real and personal property and prevent needless service outages.”
Tennessee residents are advised to call (811) when:
• Installing an irrigation system
• Excavating
• Building a deck or patio
• Putting in a fence or mailbox
• Planting trees or shrubberies
• Grading
Tennessee 811 is the state’s official one-call source. Established in 1983, its mission is to function as an advance notification service to operators of underground facilities across Tennessee. For more information on Tennessee 811 visit
www.tnonecall.org/ or follow them on Twitter @Tennessee811.
