Don’t Be That Neighbor—Always Follow Safe Digging Practices

Every few minutes, an underground utility line is unintentionally damaged, which can result in critical service outages, costly repairs, personal injury…or worse. Valuable utility lines are buried on your property and if you don’t know where they are, you may accidently strike one. The outcome can be catastrophic. It’s your responsibility to contact JULIE before you dig to get utility lines marked. Every Project. Every Time.

Avoid Service Interruptions

Power outage. Down Internet. Gas leak. You can cause all of these unnecessary interruptions if you hit an underground utility line. And it’s not just your services that may be impacted, you may inconvenience your neighbors, as well. That’s why whenever you’re digging on your property—no matter how shallow or how often—you’re required by law to contact JULIE at least two business days before you put a shovel in the ground. It’s easy to do and requests to locate are taken 24/7/365.

• Call 811 or (800) 892-0123 to speak with an agent.

If you hire a handyman or contractor to handle your outdoor project, the person actually doing the excavation MUST notify JULIE according to state law. Do not allow someone to begin digging on your property if they do not follow safe practices, even if they claim they know where underground utility lines are located.

Save Yourself Time And Money

JULIE is a FREE Service. Neglecting to contact JULIE, on the other hand, can end up costing you a significant amount of money. If you strike a utility line, you will need to halt your project while damage is assessed.

• Never attempt to repair, clamp or constrict a damaged utility line
• Immediately notify the affected utility company
• Call 911 in the event of a potentially dangerous situation

You may have to pay for repairs or replacement. Sometimes, an affected utility company will also charge for downtime to cover the cost of lost revenue experienced while the utility was out of service. Some underground utilities react violently when struck, which can cause damage to equipment, your property, and possibly the surrounding area resulting in longer delays and even higher repair costs. Don’t risk it. Contact JULIE before you dig.

Protect Your Community And Yourself

While failing to notify JULIE of an upcoming digging project is the top source of underground utility line damage, failing to maintain clearance—or digging too close to the markings—is another major contributor to accidents. Colored flags and paint illustrate the approximate location of where utility lines are buried. For safety, a tolerance zone has been established to serve as a warning to proceed with caution. In Illinois, the tolerance zone extends 18 inches on either side of the marked underground line. If possible, avoid digging in this area. If you must dig within the tolerance zone, do so very carefully.

If you’re planning on planting, building, adding, or fixing anything outdoors that includes excavation, never dig without knowing where utility lines are buried. Do your part to prevent damages to utility lines. Contact JULIE before you dig at least two business days before starting your project. It’s the law.

Starting an outdoor project this weekend? Contact JULIE before 4 p.m. Wednesday.