Chester, VA – Ahead of National 811 Day, which is on Tuesday, Aug. 11, Columbia Gas of Virginia is reminding homeowners and contractors to contact 811 at least three business days before starting any outdoor digging projects.
Projects like planting trees, installing fences, building decks or placing mailboxes can put underground natural gas pipelines and other utilities at risk if digging begins without proper preparation. Contacting 811 before digging allows utilities to identify and mark buried lines so work can move forward safely.
Requests to 811 can be submitted by calling 811 or through www.VA811.com. The service is free and available statewide, helping prevent injuries, service disruptions and costly repairs.
“Most digging accidents happen during routine projects around the home,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “It’s up to all of us to make sure we contact 811 at least three business days before every digging project, whether the project is big or small. In fact, taking this step isn’t just a safety precaution, it’s the law in Virginia.”
Pipelines may be buried just inches beneath the ground due to erosion, landscaping changes or previous construction, making it essential to contact 811 for every project, no matter the size.
Anyone who accidentally damages a natural gas line or detects the odor of natural gas, should STOP work immediately, LEAVE the area and CALL 911 and Columbia Gas at 1‑800-544-5606 from a safe location.
For more information or to submit a locate request, visit VA811.com or ColumbiaGasVA.com.
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, dependable and efficient natural gas to approximately 293,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
