How it Works
As any professional will tell you, smart digging always means contacting 811 before every job. Homeowners often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked, but every digging job requires a call – even “small” projects like planting trees and shrubs.
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Kansas 811 is pleased to offer ITIC Lite. In addition to calling 811, homeowners and one-time excavators can also file utility locate requests online by using this easy-to-use software application.
When you call before you dig, you’ll prevent unintended consequences such as injury to you or your family, damage to your property, utility service outages to the entire neighborhood and potential fines and repair costs. After all, do you really want to be the person who knocks out the neighborhood’s cable service during the big game?
Kansas 811 App
Homeowners can use the Kansas 811 app to easily and quickly manage locate requests. Anyone planning to excavate in Kansas can use the app to initiate a locate request prior to excavation. Download the Kansas 811 app and use it to:
- Submit Locate Requests. Log in to Ticket Search to file a locate request.
- Access Resources and Videos.
…or Call
One easy phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground utility lines marked for free. When you call 811 you will be routed to the Kansas 811 call center. Kansas 811 operators will ask you for the location of your digging job and route your call to affected utility companies. Your utility companies will then send a professional locator to your location to mark your lines within a few days. Once your underground lines have been marked, you will know the approximate location of your utility lines and can dig safely, because knowing what’s below protects you and your family.
The Wait
Good job – you’ve taken the first step toward safe digging and made the quick call to 811! But wait, what happens next? Well, since your call was routed to Kansas 811, locate crews from member utility companies have found out exactly where you are planning to dig and are on their way to mark those hidden underground utility lines are under your lawn!
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Most locate crews will arrive to mark your property within a few days and will make sure you know exactly where to dig. So kick back and relax, knowing your call made a safe digging project possible. Now’s your chance to take a deep breath before beginning that project. Catch a movie, read a good book, walk the dog, or take a trip to your local home improvement store and get everything you’ll need for your project – just don’t dig until your yard is marked, of course!
RESPECT the Marks
The Utility companies will use colored flags or paint to indicate the approximate location of their underground utilities. To assist the utility company, you may mark the area of excavation with white paint or flags.
The American Public Works Administration (APWA®) is a non-profit organization of companies, public works agencies, and individuals who created the Uniform Color Code – the universal marking guideline that should be used by all professional underground utility locating companies.
SELECT A COLOR
Safe Digging
Well you called before digging, waited for your lines to be marked, and now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get to work! By now locator crews, possibly from multiple companies, have been to your property and made sure to mark the approximate location of your underground utility lines. Check the area before proceeding with your project. If a member utility has not responded or if underground facilities are clearly present and not located, call Kansas 811 again to have the area located properly.
Don’t forget that with time, erosion or root structure growth may shift the locations of your utility lines, so remember to call again, each time you are planning a digging job. Safe digging is no accident. Now that you’ve made the smart call to 811 and protected yourself, your family and neighborhood, make sure to spread the word about 811.
What Does NOT Get Marked
Some underground lines in your work area may not be utility owned. These are considered private facilities and will NOT be marked by public utility companies. Types of private facilities include, but are not limited to: heating systems for pools, electricity for outbuildings, invisible fences, septic systems, sprinkler systems, and satellite dishes. If you think you may have private facilities, you should contact and hire a private utility locator to identify and locate them.
