Private utility locators are independent consultants who work directly with property owners and contractors to protect utilities not covered by the 811 service. Some common private utilities found in residential settings are water and sewer services, wells & wastewater/septic systems, propane lines, stormwater & gutter drains, or pool utilities, for example.

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Calling 811 to give notice that you plan to dig is required by North Carolina law in almost all cases.

There is a common misconception that 811 locators will not mark utility lines beyond highway rights-of-way or onto private property. This is inaccurate.

It is true that 811 locators only mark lines owned by utility companies, but they will mark those lines all the way to a service meter or outside connection on your home 99.9% of the time. Utilities covered by 811 services typically include natural gas, electricity, and most data & communications networks.

Water and sewer lines are exceptions to this rule. Because water meters are often found near the street, in front of most properties, and because most sewer connections are unmetered, neither of these utilities will typically be marked beyond a street right-of-way or a water meter.

The 811 call center and the locators who mark those utilities are funded by the utility companies they serve. Those costs are passed on to all of us – utility customers – every time we pay our bills.

At Piedmont Locating Services, we encourage you to always call 811 before you dig, both to comply with the law and to place liability for public utilities where it belongs, with the utility companies that own those cables and pipes.

Having 811 utilities marked ahead of our arrival saves much time and guesswork, and helps us keep your costs to a minimum.

 

Copyright: T J Hubbard III, 2010-2025