NIPSCO and SEMCO Emphasize 811 Calls: Stay Safe From Hazardous Utility Line Strikes

As spring arrives, numerous property owners will likely begin new exterior endeavors.

Officials from NIPSCO and SEMCO Energy gas companies are urging individuals to dial 811 prior to inserting a shovel into the earth.

Jessica Cantarelli, the communication manager at NIPSCO, warns that digging without caution can result in severe injuries.

"Cavando senza conoscere la posizione delle utility sotterranee, si possono causare ferite gravi, interruzioni dei servizi, riparazioni costose e danni," sostiene Cantarelli.

Officials advise people looking to dig underground to call 811 and to allow 3-5 business days for a free property assessment.

Tim Lubbers, a spokesperson for SEMCO, suggests that everybody should dig with caution.

Make the call, allow some time for verification, and ensure everything has been properly marked before proceeding with your excavation work. Even after you start using the shovel, if there are any markings close to your intended digging area, proceed cautiously as recommended by Lubbers.

Several of these risks include striking a natural gas, electrical, as well as water or sewage line.

Representatives from both companies emphasize that residents should contact 811 since it is against the law to excavate without having the area assessed first.

Contractors and landscapers alike must adhere to these guidelines as well.

"They aim to ensure that these contractors either call 811 or submit an online request at least two business days prior to starting their projects so they can clearly indicate the locations of underground sewer lines, gas lines, water pipes, and communication cables," explains Cantarelli.

Red flags indicate electrical wires, blue flags mark where your water connection is located, and green ones signify your sewage and drainage pipes.

Authorities emphasize the importance of calling 811, regardless of whether you're digging just a foot deep.

You might have an electrical line that can pose risks if damaged while supplying power to your house. Similarly, damaging a waterline could interrupt both your own and your neighbor’s access to water services. There are numerous safety concerns involved here along with potential costs associated with rupturing such lines. Not calling 'dig' and failing to ensure proper marking of these utility lines only adds to those complications,” explains Lubbers.

Authorities claim that dialing 811 might seem inconvenient, yet it has the potential to prevent substantial financial losses amounting to thousands of dollars in future damage.