What is DigAlert?

Digalert is a one-call notification center that serves as a communications link between the person who is digging and the owners of underground utilities.  If you call 811 at least two full working days before you plan to start digging, as a FREE service, we will notify all our members that own and maintain underground lines in the area.  They will only mark the lines they own up to the meters, they will not mark any private lines, such as: lines going to fire pits, BBQ’s, pool heaters, spas, etc.

Each utility company will mark their lines using paint, chalk, flags or whiskers using a standard color code shown below:

 

 

If the marks are going adjacent to or through your work area, you are required by law to hand expose the line in conflict 24 inches on either side so that you are aware of its’ exact location and depth before using any power equipment.

Question Homeowners Should Be Prepared To Answer When Calling 811

“Will you be doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor?”   If you are hiring a contractor, please be prepared to provide the name of the company, if possible, their address, telephone number, foreman’s name and contact number.  If you are doing the work yourself, we will require your information.

“Have you pre-marked in white the area in which you plan on digging?”  California State law states that if it is practical, you are required to pre-mark the area where you will be digging with white paint, stakes with white flags, chalk or any other suitable material.

“What is the county, city, address or location of where the work will be taking place?”  You will also be asked for the closest connecting cross street to your location. (Not the MAJOR cross street, we need the CLOSEST cross street to the street where you will be working, it could be a very small street or even a cul-de-sac).  You may also add any specific information such as:  which side of the house, the rear of the house, along an existing fence line, in front in the parkway, etc).

“What type of work will you be doing?” Some examples would be installing sprinklers in the front yard, replacing the existing fence, installing a new fence, removing or planting a tree, installing landscape, etc).

“Was a permit required for the work that you are doing?”  If you don’t know, just answer “unknown”.  If a permit was required but you don’t have the number, reply “not available”.  If a permit was required and you have the number, please give it to the operator.

“When do you plan on starting the work?”  We are only able to issue a DigAlert ticket if you are starting the work within 14 calendar days of the date you call.  If your start date is beyond 14 calendar days, you will need to wait to call in your location until the start date is closer.

The operator will now read you a list of the utilities required to respond which sometimes may be quite long.  Please don’t be concerned, it does not mean all of their lines are on your property and remember……this is a free service, there are no hidden charges.  You will now receive what we call a ticket number.  This is how we hold your information in our system.  If for any reason you need to contact us, have that ticket number handy so that the operator is able to pull up your information.  You are ready to start your work on the date you provided once all the utilities have marked.