Call before you dig

Gardeners, homeowners and business operators should know what’s beneath the soil before they break ground.

April is Safe Digging Month in Wisconsin following a proclamation from Gov. Tony Evers.

The announcement encourages anyone planning improvement projects to call 811 before they dig. This is to help prevent damage to underground utility lines. Lines can be breached or damaged from something as simple as gardening, building a fence, planting a tree or shrub, or installing a mailbox. Diggers can also be seriously injured if they strike lines, or have to pay for costly repairs.

When people file a locate request with Diggers Hotline, the service notifies utility companies in the area. Companies then send out professional locators to mark underground lines with flags or paint. Diggers Hotline services are free.

Regardless of project size, homeowners are required to contact Diggers Hotline three working days prior to any project.

A survey conducted by Common Ground Alliance showed 33 percent of Americans experienced a utility outage last year.

More information is available at DiggersHotline.com.