Glossary

Call Before You Dig

What is Call Before You Dig?

Call before you dig is the safety practice of notifying utility locators (via 811 in the US) before any excavation so buried lines are marked, preventing dangerous and costly utility strikes.

Call before you dig is the industry mandate to request utility locates before breaking ground. In the United States the single point of contact is 811, which relays the request to affected utility owners so they can mark their lines. The practice is a legal requirement in most jurisdictions, not just a courtesy.

Once utilities are marked, crews verify the exact location and depth by potholing or daylighting with hydro excavation, the safest way to dig near marked lines. Vac4Rent connects renters with hydrovac and vacuum excavation equipment for that non-destructive verification work.