Contacting OKIE811 is a critical first step before beginning any excavation project. Knowing where underground utilities are located helps reduce the risk of damage, injuries, costly repairs and service disruptions.
What is 811?
Millions of miles of utility lines are buried underground, including natural gas, electric, water, sewer and communication facilities. The National Call Before You Dig service (811) is a free resource that helps protect people and critical infrastructure by connecting excavators, contractors and homeowners with underground utility operators. Before you plant a tree, install a mailbox or start any digging project, contact 811. Utility operators will mark underground lines with paint or flags before excavation begins, and even small projects like gardens, bushes and flower beds require a call.
When Should I contact 811?
You should contact 811 at least 48 hours, excluding the date of notification, weekends and holidays, before you want to begin digging. Have the address, nearest cross street and exact area location of where you plan to dig. Marking the area where you plan to dig with white paint or flags can help utility locators identify the work site.
What should I do after contacting 811?
Wait. Allow locators 48 hours, excluding the date of notification, weekends and holidays, to mark buried lines with paint or flags.
Confirm. Before you begin digging, confirm that all utilities have responded to your locate request. You can contact 811 to verify that responses have been received.
Color match. Understand what the different colors of flags or paint in your yard mean. For example, natural gas lines are marked with yellow flags. Learn more here.
Dig carefully. The marks left by locators should guide your project. Utilize soft digging techniques to identify the location of underground facilities. You should avoid digging with mechanical equipment within 2 feet of all utility marks.
Maintain the marks. Leave the flags in place throughout your digging project. If flags or markings are no longer present, contact 811 to have your project markings refreshed.
Call if you hit a line. If you damage a pipeline, contact Oklahoma Natural Gas immediately and contact 811. If the damage results in the release of natural gas, leave the area immediately, then call 911, Oklahoma Natural Gas at 800-458-4251 and 811. Do not cover, backfill or attempt to repair the damage, even if it appears minor.
Keep your locate ticket valid. Didn’t finish your project and you’re restarting after a long break? 811 locate requests are only valid for 14 calendar days. If your project extends beyond this period, contact 811 to submit a new request and have the area remarked before continuing excavation.
Learn more about 811 here.
