Nevada celebrating April as National Safe Digging Month

This April marks the ninth annual National Safe Digging Month, reminding Nevada residents to call 811 two working days before beginning any digging project.

The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada supports the efforts of the Nevada Regional Common Ground Alliance, sponsors of National Safe Digging Month in the Silver State.

Calling 811 connects homeowners and contractors to the call center USA North, who notifies utility companies of the homeowner’s or contractor’s intent to dig. Locators are then sent to the dig site to mark locations of underground lines.

Officials say every six minutes an underground utility line is damaged because someone decided to dig without first calling 811. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, including planting a tree or installing a mailbox, warrants a call to 811.

For information, go to www.call811.com or www.usanorth811.org.