811

Before You Dig Get the App!

It’s an alarming fact that an underground utility line is damaged every six minutes in the United States because someone decided to dig but didn’t call 811. The 811 program is a fast and free service for residents and contractors to get underground utilities marked out before beginning a project.

Underground Service Alert of Southern California, or DigAlert, recently launched an app that makes it even easier to schedule and track 811 requests from any smartphone to have underground utilities marked out before excavating. The app is available for Apple, Android and Windows devices.

The DigAlert app has tons of useful tools for homeowners and contractors

  • Access most DigAlert online services
  • Check and post responses
  • Update tickets
  • See all of your tickets that will be expiring or have expired
  • Access DigAlert Express with fields auto completed
  • See if your DigAlert center is open, closed and how many callers are on hold before you call

Preventing a Serious Safety Hazard

Hitting a gas line can result in a serious safety hazard, fires, property damage, loss of utility service, costly repairs and fines. Unsafe digging from construction and landscaping activities resulted in more than 400 gas leaks locally last year.

These types of incidents are largely preventable. Statistics show that 99 percent of the time damage to gas lines from digging can be avoided when the 811 process is followed.

Contractors and homeowners should always call 811, submit a request at Digalert.org, or through the app at least two business days prior to a project that involves digging. SDG&E will then mark out the location of buried utility-owned gas pipes and other lines free of charge.