In the United States all excavators are required by law to request utility locates by calling 811, the national excavation safety hotline, at least two or three days prior to the start of each project. Facilities owned and maintained by your local telephone, cable television, natural gas, electric, and other utility providers are commonly referred to as “public” utilities.
Facilities buried inside most cellular tower compounds are usually considered private lines.
A call to 811 typically results in these public utilities being marked up to a customer meter or other outside service connection, but beyond that point any pipe, wire, or cable in the ground is considered to be owned by the customer.
In most places, “private” utilities will remain unmarked and vulnerable to interruption until an independent utility locator is hired to complete the job.
By some estimates up to 65% of all buried utilities in the United States are private, customer owned facilities, and are therefore not covered by the so-called “free” services provided through 811.
Fiber optic networks are often private owned.
Some of the most common private facilities include:
- Fiber Optic Networks
- Propane Delivery Systems
- Septic Fields & Sewer Pipes
- Commercial & Residential Wells
- Stadium & Security Lighting
- Lighted Commercial Signs
- Process Water & Fire Protection Systems
- Low Voltage Electrical Wiring
- Pet Containment Systems
From fiber optic networks serving a college campus to security lighting at a shopping mall, fire protection rings at a manufacturing facility to residential propane lines or satellite cables, Piedmont Locating is available to mark these and most other privately owned facilities, preventing damage and preserving the integrity of your property.
If you are uncertain whether or not you need the services of a private utility locator, please do not hesitate to call 336-391-5542 and ask. Our primary concern is your safety. If you don’t need the services we offer, we will tell you why and help put you in touch with the right organization to meet your needs.
When you need affordable, expert utility locating services to protect your infrastructure, Piedmont Locating Services is here to help.
