Gov. Larry Hogan Proclaims April Safe Digging Month

Gov. Hogan recently proclaimed April as Safe Digging Month to serve as a reminder for homeowners and contractors to practice safe digging. In observance of the nationally recognized initiative, Miss Utility/District One Call – the one-call notification center for Western Shore Maryland and Washington, D.C. – today announced results from a recent national survey which revealed that of the 71 million U.S. homeowners who plan to dig this year for projects like building a fence, landscaping and installing a mailbox, nearly half (49%) will put themselves and their communities at risk by digging without contacting 811 to learn the approximate location of underground utilities.

The survey, which was conducted by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) – the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities – also discovered that almost six in ten U.S. homeowners (58%) reported experiencing a utility service interruption in the past 12 months. Neglecting to contact 811 before digging can result in serious injuries, inconvenient service disruptions and costly repairs when gas, electric, communications, water and sewer lines are damaged. Utilizing this free service can help maintain essential utility services and keep communities safe, by reducing the likelihood of accidentally digging into buried utility lines.

“Many Marylanders are planning to put a shovel to the ground this spring and it is crucial that they contact Miss Utility/District One Call prior to starting their home improvement projects,” said Scott Brown, Washington Gas Damage Prevention and chair of the Miss Utility board of directors. "Even if it’s just planting a tree or building a deck, calling 811 or visiting www.MissUtility.net to have buried utilities marked before digging will help keep communities safe and connected to the critical utility services we all rely on every day.”

As part of National Safe Digging Month, Miss Utility/District One Call encourages homeowners to take the following steps when planning a digging project this spring:

• Always contact Miss Utility/District One Call a few days before digging, regardless of the depth or familiarity with the property.
• Plan ahead. Call 811 or visit www.MissUtility.net on Monday or Tuesday for work planned for an upcoming weekend, providing ample time for the approximate location of lines to be marked.
• Confirm that all lines have been marked.
• Consider moving the location of your project if it is near utility line markings.
• If a contractor has been hired, confirm that the contractor has contacted Miss Utility/District One Call. Don't allow work to begin if the lines aren't marked.
• Visit www.MissUtility.net for complete info.

About Miss Utility/District One Call

The Miss Utility notification center is the approved one-call notification center for Miss Utility, (Western Shore Maryland), District One Call, (District of Columbia), and Miss Utility of Delmarva (Eastern Shore Maryland & Delaware). The organization’s purpose is to prevent damage to underground infrastructure by providing one-call services in those areas. Miss Utility also develops educational programs and outreach intended to foster a sense of shared responsibility for the protection of underground facilities during excavation and demolition. For more information, visit www.missutility.net.

About the study

SSRS conducted a national omnibus phone study between March 4-7, 2022, on behalf of CGA. A total of 1,003 Americans ages 18+ were asked about their homeowner status and opinions on home and property improvement project topics. The survey had a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.