April is Safe Digging Month

APRIL IS SAFE DIGGING MONTH, TPUC REMINDS THE PUBLIC TO CALL 811 BEFORE DIGGING

 Nashville, Tennessee – The arrival of spring marks the start of the outdoor planting season for many Tennessee homeowners.  It also ushers in the potential risk of damage to Tennessee’s utility distribution pipelines, such as to our water, electric, cable and natural gas lines.   

April is National Safe Digging Month and the Tennessee Public Utility Commission (TPUC) wants to remind Tennessee consumers of the hazards of digging underground and to take the precautionary steps of calling 811 before starting any digging or excavation project.    

The leading cause of pipeline damage is the result of failing to call the 811 line location service. According to the American Gas Association, nearly 60 percent of all incidents on utility distribution pipelines are caused by unintentional excavation damage and can be prevented by calling 811. The service is free and available nationwide.  

Tennessee residents are urged to “know what’s below” before digging to preserve the state’s underground utility lines, and are advised to call 811 when installing an irrigation system, excavating, building a deck or patio, planting trees or shrubberies, grading or putting in a fence.   

The mission of the TPUC is to ensure the safe and reliable provision of public utility services to the citizens of Tennessee.

Contact: Greg Mitchell, Media
(615) 741-6883