Dialing 811 is just a three-digit call, but one that can prevent costly damage, serious injury, even death.

April is “National Safe Digging Month” because it is a time when many people start outdoor projects. At least three business days before a shovel hits the ground, call 811 or go to call811.com to submit a request for your underground utilities to be located and marked. Having the facility owners mark your utility lines with paint or flags can help you or a contractor avoid unintentionally hitting underground lines. Common underground utility lines include gas, water, sewer, electric, phone, and cable television.According to a survey by Common Ground Alliance, a non-profit organization committed to safety and damage prevention, nearly 27 million U.S. homeowners plan to dig this year without contacting 811. Not doing this one step is putting the digger and the community at risk of danger and loss of utility services.

Making the call is the law. Both homeowners and contractors are required by Pennsylvania law to call 811 at least three business days before any digging or excavation. No matter how small or simple a project it is, if a homeowner is doing the work, they should make the call. If a homeowner hires a contractor to do the work, it is up to the contractor to call 811. The request is free for homeowners and a small annual fee for contractors. Be prepared when calling 811 and have the location of the work ready, along with the type of work, details on how the work will be done, and the expected duration of the project.

“Whether it is landscaping, putting in a new mailbox, or much larger digging projects, it doesn’t matter. Make the call to 811. It is an extra step in the process, but it is an important one and it could be a life saver,” says Chris Brown, UGI Utilities Vice President of Operations. “Safe Digging Month is a great time to remind everyone of the importance of getting your underground utility lines located and marked. It could help you avoid a costly and dangerous mistake.”

This is also a good time to remind homeowners and contractors to be mindful of dangers above when working around electric and other above-ground facilities. Contact of any kind to power lines can be deadly.

Visit www.ugi.com/811 or call811.com for more information about safe digging practices and excavation safety.

UGI Utilities has headquarters in Denver, Pennsylvania and serves more than 740,000 customers in 45 Pennsylvania counties and one county in Maryland. Customers interested in additional information visit the UGI website at www.ugi.com; on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ugiutilities; X at www.twitter.com/ugi_utilities.