The Shadow
CHESTER, Va. (VR)– In observance of National Safe Digging Month this April, Columbia Gas of Virginia is reminding homeowners and professionals to contact VA811 before starting any outdoor digging projects. A recent national survey found that more than 27 million homeowners planning do-it-yourself digging and excavation projects will not contact 811, which puts themselves, their neighbors and essential utility services at risk.
Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can lead to serious injuries, service outages and expensive repairs. Accidentally striking gas, electric, communications, water or sewer lines can cause significant disruptions to homes and businesses. A free VA811 request is available online at www.VA811.com or by calling 811. Your dig request ensures that underground utility lines are properly marked before digging, preventing accidents and keeping communities safe.
“Failing to contact 811 before digging puts homeowners and their neighbors at risk of injury and utility service interruptions,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “We found the top reason that homeowners don’t plan to notify utility companies before digging is that they believe their project is too shallow to merit an 811 request. That’s just not the case – you must contact 811 for every dig, every time.”
Even common do-it-yourself projects – such as planting a garden, installing a mailbox or setting up a fence – can pose risks, as many utilities are buried just inches below the surface.
Safe Digging Steps for Homeowners
To prevent utility damage and ensure safety, Columbia Gas urges homeowners to follow these key steps before starting any digging project:
- Notify VA811 at least three business days before the start of the digging project or excavation regardless of the project size or depth.
- Plan ahead – submit a free 811 request early in the week for weekend projects, ensuring enough time for marking.
- Confirm all utility lines are marked before beginning work.
- Adjust project plans if necessary – consider relocating projects if they are too close to marked utility lines.
- Verify 811 contact with hired contractors – ensure they have requested utility markings before any work begins.
- Learn more at www.VA811.com.
How VA811 Works
Everyone who contacts VA811 before digging is connected to a local 811 center, which communicates the request to utility companies in the area. Professional locators will then visit the site and mark the approximate location of underground utilities using color-coded paint or flags. Once the area is marked, it is safe to begin digging while carefully avoiding the designated lines.
“Contacting 811 before digging is a simple step that can prevent dangerous and costly mistakes,” added Montague. “By spreading awareness and encouraging responsible digging practices, we can keep communities safe and prevent unnecessary utility disruptions.”
For more information on safe digging and the VA811 process, visit www.VA811.com and www.columbiagasva.com/safety/
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, affordable and efficient natural gas to approximately 290,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
About Common Ground Alliance
CGA is a member-driven association of nearly 4,000 damage prevention professionals spanning every facet of the underground utility industry. Established in 2000, CGA is committed to saving lives and preventing damage to North American underground infrastructure by promoting effective damage prevention practices. CGA has established itself as the preeminent source of damage prevention data and information in an effort to reduce damages to underground facilities in North America through shared responsibility among all stakeholders. For more information, visit CGA on the web at http://www.
About the survey
Online survey among 616 US Homeowners, aged 18+ fielded between Feb.14-15, 2025. The survey was conducted by SurveyMonkey Audience on behalf of CGA. The margin of error based on a 95% confidence level is +/- 3.95%.
