1. One Call (811) will mark all underground utilities.

One Call ONLY marks the public utilities owned by utility companies and only from the main to the box. The vast majority of underground utilities are privately owned and will not be marked by One Call, including irrigation systems, power lines to lot lights, closed circuit television lines, and diesel tanks.

2. Private utility locators will mark ALL underground utilities.

While the goal of private utility locators is always to mark all underground utilities, the technologies utilized do have limitations impacted by conditions, and it is critical that you proceed with any excavation activity with extreme caution.

3. There is no preparation needed on my end after ordering private locating service.

Before the private utility locator arrives, you should prepare by making sure there are minimal obstructions on the site, such as parked cars and piled construction materials, and ensure that any utility rooms or fenced utilities are unlocked and accessible. It is also important to provide the locate technician with any utility records and maps you have. Even if they are no longer accurate, they can provide important information that helps to achieve maximum accuracy.

4. Underground utility locates are always accurate.

Despite the high accuracy of locating technologies, they do have limitations which can occasionally lead to inaccurate or incomplete locates. It is important to proceed with any excavation activity with extreme caution and stay as far away as possible, ideally three to 10 feet, from marked lines. Also, keep in mind the possibility of parallel utilities located next to a marked line.

5. There are no underground utilities shown on my utility map, so underground utility locating is unnecessary.

Past records are seldom accurate or complete. To prevent damages and mitigate safety hazards, you should always call for One Call and private underground utility locating services prior to beginning any project which entails excavation or boing into the ground.

6. Only metallic pipes and cables can be detected by underground utility locating, but not non-metallic utilities, such as PVC pipes, fiber optic cables, and concrete pipes.

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is highly effective at locating non-metallic utilities, and sometimes, metallic trace wires have been inserted into pipes or conduit so they can be traced.

7. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) can detect any underground utility or subsurface structure.

While highly effective at locating underground utilities and subsurface structures undetectable by traditional locating methods, GPR technology, which utilizes electromagnetic waves to capture images below ground, can be limited by penetration depth and difficulty interpreting data due to certain conditions.

8. Once underground utility locating is completed, I can use the results for all future projects.

There are many variables which may affect underground utility locating, including soil condition, weather, limited site access, and availability of utility records or maps. The underground utility locate completed today may not be accurate or suitable for a future project. To prevent costly damages and project delays and prevent safety hazards for your crews and community, a One Call public utility locate AND a private utility locate should be completed prior to beginning any project which entails excavation or boring into the ground.