CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The Public Service Commission of West Virginia is reminding people to call before they begin any project that involves digging, include home projects.
The reminder comes as Sunday, Aug. 8, marks National 811 Day. In West Virginia, people are required to call West Virginia 811 at least 48 hours before digging can begin.
“Every time you dig, you run the risk of hitting an underground utility, even if you only dig a few inches,” said Charlotte Lane, the chairman of the state Public Service Commission. “Striking a natural gas pipeline, a wire or a cable can result in utility service outages, which can leave you liable for costly repairs or significant legal fines. Even worse, a line strike can cause serious personal injury or death.”
The state’s 811 team will contact utility companies for free, and send locators to a project site to mark underground facilities with flags, stakes or paint. Once facilities have been marked, diffing can begin.