CHARLOTTE, N.C. — April is Safe Digging Month, and Piedmont Natural Gas is reminding customers and communities to call 811 before digging to protect the nation’s underground utility infrastructure. Here with more is Executive Director from NC811, Louis Panzer and Zach Vavricka from Piedmont Natural Gas.
“Many people are enjoying the spring and getting ready for the summer; however, NC811 and Piedmont Natural Gas would like to caution you before you move a mailbox, plant new landscape, or dig...that you give the experts a call” says Panzer. He adds “there is a lot of infrastructure under the ground that can be problematic if ruptured.”
Utilities like power, heat, water, telephone, sewer, gas, and cable television services to your home or business often use underground infrastructure. It’s crucial to note that these buried service lines may be located close to the surface, posing a risk during excavation. To ensure safety, reach out to 811 via phone or online at NC811.org. A crew will come out and mark your area with different color coded flags...each with a different designation.
Five Steps of Digging.
STEP ONE: Contact 811
STEP TWO: Wait the required time
STEP THREE: Check Positive Response
STEP FOUR: Respect the marks
STEP FIVE: Dig with care
“We can’t stress how crucial it is to follow the guideline set forth by NC811” says Vavricka. He adds “if you are digging and hear a hissing sound or smell rotten eggs you may have broken a natural gas line or if you see water leaking or gushing you may have broken a water line.” It is also important to know, that if you break a telephone or gas or cable or any other underground lines you may incur a fine. So make sure call to avoid a potentially dangerous situation. For more information visit NC811.org or PiedmontNG.com/home.
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