HomeMy WebLinkAboutCall Before You Dig
City of Edina • 4801 W. 50th St. • Edina, MN 55424
Contact: Hannah Watkins, Communications Intern
Phone 952-826-0519 • hwatkins@EdinaMN.gov • www.EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Call 8-1-1 Before Digging in Your Yard
Edina, Minn., April 8, 2015 – Outdoor temperatures are climbing and the snow has melted, which means it
won’t be long before people start getting their lawns ready for spring projects. Although it may seem easiest
to start digging up the yard right away, the Edina Fire Department reminds residents that calling 8-1-1 first is
the best way to ensure projects go smoothly.
Homeowners sometimes make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines
marked, but every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees and shrubs. Last year, 25
gas lines and electrical lines were hit during excavations in Edina.
Underground facilities, including natural gas and electric lines, can run inches away from the surface and be
easily damaged by tools used to dig in a yard. Because of this hazard, State law requires anyone excavating to
call two days before beginning a project so a specialist contractor can mark the approximate location of
potential underground facilities, free of charge.
Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities increases the likelihood of unintentional
damage, which can cause serious injuries, service disruptions and repair costs. Anyone who damages utilities
through illegal digging will be held financially liable for repairs and could be held civilly liable for injuries.
“It is critical to call before digging. Striking a gas line or other utility could be very dangerous and even
deadly,” said Paramedic/Firefighter Joshua Link.
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