FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – National 811 Day will be observed on August 11 (8/11), serving as a reminder to visit VA811.com or call VA811 before starting any digging project to check for underground utility lines.
The size of the project doesn’t matter—whether you’re a contractor using an excavator to dig a trench or a homeowner with a shovel installing a mailbox post, you should always contact VA811 before you begin.
Requesting underground utility location services through VA811 is free and required by law. The service connects you with local utility companies, who will mark the location of buried lines such as electric, water, gas, and fiber. Across the REC service area last year, 80 outages occurred due to digging by customers or contractors. Many of these incidents could likely have been avoided if VA811 had been contacted beforehand.
Avoid being the neighbor or contractor responsible for cutting internet, water, or—worse—more dangerous utility lines that could cause injuries or worse. Submit a ticket online or call at least three business days before digging to allow utility companies time to mark their lines.
Remember the acronym C.A.R.E.:
- Click or call before you dig. Dial VA811 or visit VA811.com at least three working days before your digging project begins.
- Allow required time. Wait until utilities have responded and marked their pipes and cables with flags or spray paint before digging.
- Respect the marks. When digging near marked lines or flags, use only hand tools such as shovels or vacuum excavation methods to maintain safety and reduce the risk of damage.
- Excavate carefully. Keep marks visible. If they fade or are disturbed during your work, contact VA811 for a refresh. If you discover a damaged line or smell gas:
- Stop work immediately.
- Move to a safe location.
- Call 911.
- Contact the utility’s emergency line.
The key message is to dig safely—not just on August 11, but every day.
REC serves more than 182,000 connections across 22 Virginia counties, maintaining over 18,000 miles of power lines from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC’s programs and services, visit www.myrec.coop and follow REC on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.
