Protect Your Utility Lines, Call OUPS Before you Dig

Warmer months are often a time for home renovations and improvements. There is one simple precaution you should take before digging on your property: have your underground utility lines marked.

If your home improvement project involves any type of excavation, regardless of depth, make sure to contact the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS) before you start digging. Calling OUPS at 8-1-1 or filling out an online request form provides information about the type and location of underground utility lines on your property.

Not only is contacting OUPS a good safety practice, but it’s also required by law. Hitting an underground utility line while digging can cause damage to your property, personal injury, and utility service interruptions to you and your neighbors.

OUPS advises homeowners to call or fill out an online form between two and ten business days before digging. Individual utility companies are responsible for locating and marking lines. When utility company representatives mark a location, they use colored flags and/or paint to identify the type of underground service. Blue flags and/or markings denote water lines, connections, and mains.

After utility lines around your home are marked, be mindful of the location of the markings while digging. In the event that you hit a line, stop working and evacuate the area immediately. Never attempt to repair any leaks or damages on your own. Contact 9-1-1 immediately if the damage is of urgent nature, like a gas line leak. For any utility damage, contact the utility company as well as O.U.P.S.

There is no fee to call 8-1-1 or to request utility line marking online on your property.