August 11 serves as reminder for Wisconsin residents to always call 811 before digging
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Even with summer beginning to wind down, there’s still plenty of time to work on yard projects. Diggers Hotline hopes this date on the calendar, 8/11, will serve as a natural reminder for everyone to call 811 prior to any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.
Many Wisconsin residents have been getting the message, as Diggers Hotline handled more requests from people about to dig in July than in any previous July. It was the second consecutive month that Diggers Hotline broke its all-time monthly volume record.
Having utility lines marked before digging is important because one of these lines is damaged every three minutes nationwide due to a digging accident according to the Common Ground Alliance.
Striking a single line can cause injury, repair costs, and service outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, requires a call to 811. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are all examples of digging projects that need a call to 811 before starting.
It doesn’t matter how deep the digging project will go. The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists.
Anyone digging in Wisconsin, homeowners or professional contractors, is required to contact Diggers Hotline three working days before they start their digging project. Diggers Hotline can be reached via phone by dialing 811, or at www.DiggersHotline.com