AUGUST 11TH IS CALL 811 BEFORE YOU DIG DAY

 Making the free call to 811 before digging for home improvement projects – including landscaping or installing a mailbox – can prevent damage to underground utility lines and keep communities safe

Nashville, Tennessee – Hold that shovel! Sunday, August 11, 2019, is National 811 Day, a time to remind anyone about to dig or engage in any excavation activity that could damage underground utilities to call (811) before getting started.

Tennessee law requires that citizens notify Tennessee 811 prior to starting any kind of work that would involve digging below the earth’s surface,” says the Tennessee Public Utility (TPUC) Chair Robin Morrison. “It’s a free service and takes just minutes to call.”

By calling 811, excavators and homeowners are connected to their local one-call center representative who then notifies the appropriate utility company of their intent to dig. Representatives are then dispatched to the proposed dig site to mark the locations where the utility lines are located.

“Sixty percent of damages to underground utilities are caused by digging, but this percentage can be reduced by calling 811 first,” says Morrison. “It’s a useful service that can protect citizens from injury, damage to real and personal property and prevent needless services outages.”

Tennessee residents are advised to call (811) when:

• Installing an irrigation system
• Excavating    
• Building a deck or patio
• Putting in a fence or mailbox
• Planting trees or shrubberies
• Grading

Tennessee 811 is the state’s official one-call source. Established in 1983, its mission is to function as an advance notification service to operators of underground facilities across Tennessee. For more information, visit www.tenn811.com.

Contact: Greg Mitchell, Media (615) 741-6883