Contacting 811 is always a good call, but sometimes it can be hard to know if your project warrants a locate request. Perhaps you’ve had the area marked for underground utilities before, maybe you’re just extending your garden a little bit past where it was last year, or you’re just knocking out a quick landscaping project. No matter the project, it’s important to know that digging at any depth with any type of equipment has the potential to result in a utility line damage. That’s why we recommend contacting Gopher State One Call (GSOC) for every dig, every time. Submitting a locate request is free, easy, and the law.
With this topic in mind, we asked Eric Kolcinski, lead damage prevention coordinator at CenterPoint Energy about surprising reasons property owners should contact 811 and how gas lines in particular can be impacted. Below are four common projects that you might not have thought to submit a locate request for before starting.
Planting or Replacing Bushes
“One of the more common homeowner damages we see is from planting or replacing bushes. It’s a great DIY project that most homeowners can handle on their own. It doesn’t require mechanized equipment, and most homeowners have a shovel or two waiting in the garage,” Eric explained, noting that these plants are typically near the house and not far from the gas meter.
What if you’re replacing existing bushes or shrubs? “I think many people assume that if there is already a bush there it will be safe to hand dig in a new one. Unfortunately, if the bush was planted on or near the gas line, the roots can entangle the gas line as the bush grows. It’s really important to know the location of the gas service before pulling existing bushes or digging for new ones,” he shared.
Expanding or Starting a Garden
“Expanding or starting a new garden is another common homeowner project that can result in unforeseen damages. This might be in an unused part of the yard that seems like no utilities would be there. Many utilities run in rear easements, so even if you plan to only dig 8–12 inches deep, always get the area marked for unexpected utilities,” Eric clarified.
Can a shovel being used to dig a shallow hole really damage a utility line? “Hand dig damages with shovels and post hole diggers are very common! It doesn’t take much force for a sharp shovel blade to puncture a plastic gas line. Even if the shovel hit doesn’t result in blowing gas, always call the gas company to come out and inspect a line that has been impacted by any tool.”
Replacing a Mailbox or Fence Poles
“Installing or replacing poles or mailboxes is another very common homeowner project that can result in damages. Again, people often assume that since there is an existing fence pole there must not be a utility there. Who knows if there was an 811 ticket filed for the original installation? The original installation might have missed the utility by an inch. If you deepen or widen the existing hole, you might just hit the utility that was narrowly missed the first time,” Eric said, “Never assume. Always make the free call to 811 and get the lines marked.”
Using Stakes for Tents or Bouncy Houses
This might just be the most surprising scenario yet! Any set up that requires rods or stakes in the ground run the risk of damaging an underground utility, even if you’re not actually digging. “Ground rods and large tent stakes for graduation party tents or bouncy houses are all capable—and have—resulted in damaged facilities. If you are doing something that impacts the ground under the surface, always err on the side of caution and get the lines marked. It’s free!” Eric shared. Contacting GSOC might just be the first step in setting up for your next party!
Did You Know Underground Utility Lines Can Move?
That’s right—buried facilities can move over time. “We install gas facilities at a prescribed depth. Over time, the depth of these lines can change for many reasons. One of the most common reasons is when any grading or landscaping is done on a property, topsoil can be removed, making the line shallower than when it was installed. Tree roots are another common factor in changing the depth of a gas line,” Eric shared. Erosion, frost, and natural soil settling can also contribute to the shifting of underground lines.
That change in depth can be significant over time. “Never assume a gas line is going to be deep! Lines installed 18 inches deep 20 years ago might now be six inches deep depending on what has been done to the grade since the installation.”
Safe Digging Tip: “When exposing a marked facility, always remember the hand dig tolerance is 24 inches on either side of the marked line. Start digging 24 inches away and carefully work towards the line. If you are in an area with roots or rocks, proceed with caution! Sometimes people think they are hacking away at a tree root, and it ends up being the gas line they were trying to avoid.”
What is the Process for Submitting a Locate Request Ticket?
GSOC makes submitting an 811 ticket easy! Here’s how Eric breaks it down:
- The first step is to indicate the area in white paint or white flags.
- Use the online ITIC system to submit your ticket or call 8-1-1 at least 48 hours before you plan to start (not counting the day of submission, weekends, or holidays). Describe where the work will take place and what type of work you plan on doing. That way when the locators show up to mark your facilities, they won’t have to over-mark your property.”
- Once the locates are complete, check the positive response on your 811 ticket to make sure all notified utilities have marked or cleared your dig site.
- After that—let the project begin! If there are marked utilities in your work area, make sure to dig carefully around them. The hand dig zone is 24 inches on either side of a marked facility.
Safe Digging Tip: “If you are digging something deep like a fence post or French drain, make sure to expose the marked utility so you know exactly how deep and where it is before expanding your excavation,” Eric shared.
What Happens if a Gas Line is Damaged?
If you strike a gas line or any other buried facility and it results in the escape of any flammable, toxic, or corrosive gas/liquid—or if the damage results in a situation that endangers life, health, or property—it’s important to contact 911 before contacting the affected utility company (found on your GSOC ticket). Here’s how Eric breaks down the response for a gas line specifically:
- You’ll likely notice the sound and smell of the gas blowing from the pipe. Natural gas is lighter than air and will vent to the atmosphere. Don’t panic. The first step is to get yourself and anyone around the damage upwind of the hit line.
- The next step for the homeowner will be to call 911. They will want to keep a safe distance and make sure to keep kids and concerned neighbors away from the blowing cut line.
- Please remember to never bend over or pinch off a blowing gas line. This can cause a static charge that could be an ignition source. It feels counter intuitive to most, but letting the gas vent to the atmosphere is the safest thing to do when a gas line is damaged.
- Next, firetrucks and emergency response personal will likely be rushing to the scene. First responders will take over until a repair crew can arrive. They are all well trained and will keep the area secure until the gas is shut off and repairs can be made.
Damaging a gas line won’t just impact your project. “Depending on the facility damaged, repairs can be expensive. In some extreme cases, gas line damages can impact gas delivery to large areas,” Eric shared. The same can be said for any type of facility (electric or internet lines for example), and the cost of repairs typically falls to the person who damaged the line.
Click here to learn more about what to do in the event of an underground facility damage.
“All homeowners should feel empowered to tackle projects—big or small—on their property. As with most things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Using the 811 system is free and easy,” Eric shared, “Anytime the surface of the soil is going to be disturbed with mechanized equipment, an 811 ticket is needed. Even though there are some exemptions for hand digging, it is always the best practice to call to get utilities marked before any digging in your yard.”
You can submit a locate request ticket any time of day using GSOC’s online ITIC system. Click here learn more or get started.
If you have questions about submitting locate requests or anything 811 related, contact our Customer Support team at 651-681-7326 or send us an email at [email protected].
“Making a simple free call to 811 gets your lines marked before digging and can save you huge delays and unexpected expenses!”
Eric Kolcinski
Lead Damage Prevention Coordinator, CenterPoint Energy.