Digging Responsibly is the Only Way to Dig.
The impact of unsafe or careless digging practices is real and often costly-in terms of personal injury and damage to underground lines, property and the environment.  According to state law, anyone planning an outdoor project that requires any type of excavation, regardless of depth, should call JULIE first at 1-800-892-0123.  

What Is JULIE?
JULIE, Inc. (Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators), also known as the “Illinois One-Call System,” is a not-for-profit corporation that provides contractors/excavators, homeowners, and others who may be disturbing the earth, with a free service through a single toll-free phone number (1-800-892-0123) to call for the locating and marking of underground utility facilities.

JULIE is not a utility.  JULIE owns no facilities and does not locate underground facilities.  JULIE serves as a message handling service for utilities, taking information about planned excavations and distributing this information to its utility membership.  It is then the responsibility of each utility to mark the location of their underground facilities at the excavation site.
 
Necessary Information for Each Call
Safe digging starts when you contact JULIE.  According to state law, the person actually doing the digging is required to make the call to JULIE with the locate request information at least 48 hours (two working days, excludes weekends and holidays) in advance of the start of excavation.  If a contractor is doing the work for you, suggest that they make the call to JULIE for their protection. 
  
Illinois Law also requires that you start your project within 14 days from your call to JULIE. If the markings become unclear at any time before or during your project, please call JULIE to have the markings refreshed and be prepared to wait an additional 48 hours. 
  
If possible, mark the area where you will be digging with white paint or flags. This will help the utility locator properly identify your project area.  

Do not call JULIE on Saturday or Sunday for a project to be marked on the same weekend. Member companies only respond to emergencies on these days--not routine projects.  

When you call, be prepared to give the JULIE operator the following information:

At the end of your call, the JULIE operator will verify all the information you have given. It is very important to listen and make sure it is correct. The operator will then give you a Dig Number. This number is proof of your call to JULIE. It is important that you write it down and keep it with your records. If you need to call back for any reason, such as to refresh the marks on your project, you will need this Dig Number.

What Happens After the Call
Within two working days of your call to JULIE, a representative from each member utility company (not a JULIE staff person) will mark the location of their underground facilities with paint and/or flags at the excavation site.   (See APWA approved Utility Markings Color Chart.)  The utilities are only required to mark the facilities that they own, not privately installed lines or facilities such as house to garage or out buildings, gas grills, pool heaters, etc.  Remember, you may not begin your excavation before the dig start time of your ticket, even if all utilities have been located and marked.
  
You have an obligation to honor all time/marking requirements and then to dig in a reasonable and prudent manner, taking precautions to avoid damaging underground facilities.  It is recommended that you follow current industry practices, such as hand digging within 18 inches on either side of a marked facility (see graphic). 

Avoiding Delays
Most locators will not enter your yard if pets are present or if a gate is locked. Make sure your property is accessible. Delays may occur if the locator is unable to mark the area.