Columbia Gas of Virginia Promotes Safe Digging Awareness During National Safe Digging Month in April

Chester, Va. – April is National Safe Digging Month, and as people in Virginia begin spring home improvement and outdoor projects, Columbia Gas of Virginia is reminding homeowners to contact 811 at least three business days before starting a digging project.

Projects like planting trees, installing fences, building decks or placing mailboxes can put underground natural gas pipelines and other utilities at risk if digging begins without proper preparation. Contacting 811 before digging allows utilities to identify and mark buried lines so work can move forward safely.

Requests to 811, placed by phone or through www.VA811.com, must be made at least three business days before digging. The service is free and available statewide, helping prevent injuries, service disruptions and costly repairs.

Pipelines may be buried just inches beneath the ground due to erosion, landscaping changes or previous construction, making it essential to contact 811 for every project, no matter the size. Contacting 811 to mark utility lines is not only free, it’s the law and keeps all our neighbors safe.

“Most digging accidents happen during everyday projects around the home,” said President and Chief Operating Officer of Columbia Gas of Virginia Jennifer Montague. “Whether it’s a do-it-yourself project or work done by professional contracting services, contacting 811 before you dig helps make sure a weekend project doesn’t turn into an emergency.”

Anyone who accidentally damages a natural gas line or smells gas should STOP work immediately, LEAVE the area and CALL 911 and Columbia Gas at 1‑800-544-5606 from a safe location.

For more information about safe digging practices, visit www.VA811.com or www.ColumbiaGasVA.com.   

About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, dependable 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.