What Happens Next?

Thank you for contacting JULIE prior to your next digging project. 

E-Request
If you processed your locate request using our popular online program, E-Request, please review the locate request ticket that was e-mailed to you.  If any of the information is incorrect, contact a JULIE call center agent by dialing 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123 and refer to the locate request number.  For your convenience, JULIE agents are available 24/7.   

Please print a copy of your locate request ticket and keep it for your records.  This is proof of your contact to JULIE. 

Your Dig Number
If you contacted our call center to process your locate request, please be sure to keep your locate request reference (or dig) number and check the dig start date and time.  This is proof of your call to JULIE. 

What Happens Next?
The JULIE system will send your locate request information to member utility companies in the area of your digging project.  Within two (2) working days, a representative from each member utility company notified (not a JULIE staff person) will either mark the approximate location of their underground facilities with paint and/or flags or contact you to let you know that their underground lines are not in conflict with the area in which you are planning to dig.  Make sure that your property is accessible or delays may occur.  As an important personal and home safety reminder, these member locators rarely need to access into your home to complete a locate request and should always have proper identification clearly visible.  JULIE, Inc. personnel do not visit dig sites and do not locate any underground lines.


 

Click on this house to see what your yard may look like as a result of your notification to JULIE!



Wait the Required Amount of Time

You may not begin your excavation before the dig start date and time stated on your locate request, even if all utilities have been located and marked prior to that time.

Respect the Marks
Well, you notified JULIE before digging, waited the required amount of time for your lines to be marked, and now it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to work!

By now the utility locating crews have been to your property and made sure to mark the approximate location of their underground utility lines using paint and/or flags in the APWA approved color for their utility as illustrated here. 

Check the dig site area before proceeding.  If any of the member utilities listed on your locate request ticket have not responded or if it is clear that an unmarked facility is present, call JULIE back at 8-1-1 or 800-892-0123 (call center agents are available 24/7).  It is important to know that the member utilities are only required to mark the facilities that they own and maintain - they do not mark private facilities. 

Private facilities are lines that were installed after the meter and are considered customer owned.  These may include water and sewer services, as well as electric and gas lines to a garage or workshop.  The property owner is responsible to locate these facilities or hire a private locating service. 

Dig With Care
Now that you're ready to put your shovel into the ground - there are a few more details to cover. 

Your excavation project must begin within 14 days of your contact with JULIE.  When digging, be sure to always do so around the marks - not on top of them.  Some utility lines may be buried at a shallow depth and an unintended shovel thrust can bring you right back to square one - facing possible injury, service outages and repair costs.

If utility markings exist near where you plan to dig, you must also understand the tolerance zone. This area is the approximate location of a underground utility facility defined by a strip of land at least 3 feet wide, but not wider than the underground utility facility plus 1 1/2 feet on either side of such facility based upon the markings made by the owner or operator of the facility. 

Excavation within the tolerance zone requires hand-digging using extreme care and caution.

Always Be Safe
Don't forget that with time, erosion or root structure growth may shift the locations of your buried utility lines, so remember to contact JULIE every time you are planning a digging project.  Don't assume you know where the facilities are buried on your property.  Safe digging is no accident.

Please remember to contact JULIE for each of your upcoming projects, regardless of the size of depth.  This is a free service.  For additional information about safe digging, please view our Homeowner's Guide.  Thank you again for contacting JULIE, Inc.