Canonsburg, PA – Aug. 11 is almost here, and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania hopes that the 8/11 date on the calendar will serve as a natural reminder for homeowners and contractors to call 811 or visit PAOneCall.org at least three business days before any digging project to have underground utility lines marked.
Contacting 811 is free for homeowners, and it’s the law. Striking a single line can cause costly repairs, inconvenient outages, steep fines and even injuries.
When contacting 811, homeowners and contractors are connected to Pennsylvania One Call, which notifies the appropriate utility companies to mark the approximate location of underground utilities lines with either flags or a special spray paint.
Every digging project, no matter how big or small, requires contacting 811 at least three business days in advance to allow underground utilities time to mark their utility lines before digging begins. Examples of projects to contact 811 include everything from installing a fence, deck or mailbox to planting a tree, bushes or new garden.
Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches or digging in a previously marked location, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. The depth of utility lines can also vary for several reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces.
Along with recognizing National Safe Digging Day, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania is celebrating 8/11 Day with their very own Digger Dog’s birthday! Digger Dog, is a smart, fun safety mascot, who can be found regularly at community events and classrooms across their service territory educating everyone on contacting 811, safe digging, and other natural gas safety messages. When you see Digger, you know safety is the topic – no bones about it.
“Digger Dog is a fantastic safety ambassador,” said Columbia Gas Vice President Gas Operations Brian McCaul. “On August 11 and throughout the year, we want to spread the word that contacting 811 before digging allows us to mark our gas lines and prevent a potentially dangerous situation. Digger Dog allows us the opportunity to spread safety messaging in an educational and fun way.”
To mark and celebrate Digger Dog’s birthday, Columbia Gas is partnering with the Washington Area Humane Society to highlight adoptable dogs looking for homes and reminding new pet parents they need to contact 811 before installing any fence, even electric.
Columbia Gas and the NiSource Charitable Foundation are proud supporters of the humane society and have a provided a $1,000 grant to support shelter programs.
“Through the foundation, Columbia Gas proudly supports the Washington Area Humane Society and their work caring for animals. Through adoptions and low-cost vet programs, their work strengthens the communities we serve,” said Government & Public Affairs Manager Scott Waitlevertch.