Before You Dig

Colorado 811

Request Before You Dig!

Prior to doing digging of any sort on your property, you must call to get “locates” of the various utilities that are underground. Failure to do this could lead to damage to an underground utility line, potential service outages, restoration costs, and physical injury or death.

The locate service is an ongoing service partnership between the City of Longmont and the Utility Notification Center of Colorado (Colorado 811).

Who Do I Call?

At least 3 business days before you plan to dig, make your locate request online with the Utility Notification Center of Colorado (Colorado 811). You can also make requests by calling 8-1-1 or 800-922-1987.

When calling for locates, please have the following information ready:

• Physical Address
• Your name
• Who the work is being done for (general contractor or project)
• Type of work (landscaping, foundation, sprinkler system, etc.)
• Extent of work (depth, specific location, etc.)
• Access issues (i.e., dog in yard, locked gate, etc.)
• Contact name and number

It is recommended that you use white paint to show the area where the digging will occur to help the locaters.

After I Call, Then What?

Within 3 business days, representatives from the various utilities will come to your property and mark the location of the underground lines with colored paint. (See below to see what utility each color represents.)

If access is an issue, such as a dog in the yard, locked gate, etc., the locater will respond by email to indicate that the locating work could not be completed and why; the customer must then call for a fresh locate when the condition has been addressed.

Please be sure to allow at least 3 business days before any work is to be started.

What do the colors mean?

• Red: Electric
• Yellow: Gas
• Orange: Communications — Nextlight Internet, Cable TV, Phone
• Blue: Water
• Purple: Irrigation
• Green: Sanitary
  

Are there other lines I need to know about?

If your electric meter is not attached to the house, then your property contains private electric lines that run from the meter to the home. In addition, sewer, water, and storm drainage lines all have private components to them, typically from the curbstop to the house. In order to have these marked or flagged, you must hire a private locating company – these lines will not be marked by the utility. It is your responsibility to have this done before work begins.