Building a deck? Planting a tree? Installing a mailbox? 811 is the number you should call before you begin any digging project.
A federally-mandated national "Call Before You Dig" number, 811 was created to help protect you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects. People digging often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked due to concerns about project delays, costs and previous calls about other projects. These assumptions can be life-threatening.
Every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees or shrubs. If you hit an underground utility line while digging, you can harm yourself or those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood and potentially be responsible for fines and repair costs.
Before you dig or excavate for any planting or improvement project, protect yourself and avoid costly utility interruptions. Call the toll-free hotline for no-cost location of all underground utilities, including electric, gas, phone, water, sewers, cable TV and fiber optics.
What can I expect?
You'll give the operator information about how to contact you, where you are planning to dig and what type of work you will be doing. Your quick conversation with the operator will last a few minutes.
Victory Electric will be notified about your intent to dig. We will send a locator to mark the approximate location of your underground utility lines. This typically occurs within 2-3 working days.
So kick back and relax, knowing your call made a safe digging project possible. Now's your chance to take a deep breath before beginning that project. Catch a movie, read a good book, walk the dog, or take a trip to your local home improvement store and get everything you'll need for your project - just don't dig until your yard is marked, of course!
When can I dig?
By now locator crews, possibly from multiple companies, have been to your property and made sure to mark the approximate location of your underground utility lines. Check the area before proceeding with your project. If a member utility has not responded or if underground facilities are clearly present and not located, call Kansas One-Call again to have the area located properly.
When digging, make sure to always dig around the marks, not on them. Some utility lines may be buried at a shallow depth, and an unintended shovel thrust can bring you right back to square one - facing potentially dangerous and/or costly consequences.
Don't forget that with time, erosion or root structure growth may shift the locations of your utility lines, so remember to call again, each time you are planning a digging job. Safe digging is no accident.
Now that you've made the smart call to 811 and protected yourself, your family and neighborhood, make sure to spread the word about 811.