Whether a homeowner with a shovel or a professional excavator using mechanized equipment, contacting Virginia 811 before you dig is vital for safety.
Many homeowners are often surprised to learn that seemingly simple projects such as landscaping, fencing, or mailbox installation can become dangerous and disruptive when they dig without knowing the location of underground utility lines, which may include electric, communications, natural gas, water, and sewer lines. Knowing where these lines are beforehand prevents injuries, property damage, and service outages.
Buried utilities are hit every few minutes in the U.S. So, before starting any digging project, regardless of size, it’s essential to contact Virginia 811 to submit a locate request. You can do this online at VA811.com or by calling 811. Submitting a locate request is easy and free.
“Our unwavering mission at Virginia 811 is to keep Virginians safe when digging. 811 Day is a great reminder to homeowners and professionals alike to contact 811 before digging to help eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line,” says Scott Crawford, President, and CEO for Virginia 811, “It’s the only way to know where public utilities are buried in your area.”
Virginia 811 has an exciting week of festivities planned to celebrate 811 Day at various community events throughout the state. The celebration includes engaging sponsorship activities, from minor league baseball games in Richmond, Norfolk, and Salem to the Franklin-Southampton County Fair and the renowned Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway.
And for the second consecutive year, Virginia 811 has partnered with Papa Johns Pizza for 811 Day, with Virginia Natural Gas serving as a partner sponsor. Papa Johns is offering an $8.11 pizza deal in 27 locations across Hampton Roads. Using the promo code 811DEAL, customers will receive a “Buy Any Large Pizza, Get One Large Cheese Pizza for $8.11” offer. Over 50,000 Papa Johns pizza boxes will feature this offer, introducing households and businesses throughout the region to 811 Day, Virginia 811, our partner Virginia Natural Gas, and the importance of safe digging. Visit VA811.com/811-Day-Pizza-Deal/ for more information about this promotion.
Additionally, the Public Awareness & Training (PAT) team at Virginia 811 plays a pivotal role in this annual celebration. As a cornerstone component of 811 Day annual festivities, the PAT team will embark on surprise statewide work site stops throughout the week, delivering Papa Johns pizza, cold beverages, and VA811 swag. These gestures of appreciation are aimed at expressing gratitude to stakeholders who prioritize safety and the protection of underground utilities during excavation activities. For further details about these 811 Day efforts, please visit VA811.com/VA811Day/.
About Virginia 811
Virginia Utility Protection Service, commonly called Virginia 811, is a not-for-profit organization and the designated one-call notification center for Virginia. Created by Virginia’s utilities to protect their underground facilities, it is dedicated to preventing damage to underground utilities and promoting safety in excavation. Virginia 811 provides a vital service by facilitating the communication between excavators and locators, operating a 24/7 call center, receiving locate requests, and dispatching notifications to utility owners across the Commonwealth. For more information about Virginia 811 and safe digging practices, visit VA811.com.
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