 It 's springtime in Minnesota, which is also known as the start of “construction season.” You tend to see colored flags start to appear in the ground here and there as residents and businesses plan outside work on their property. These “flags” and spray painted lines are markers that represent utility lines that are buried below ground.
Underground utility flags and spray paint are used to mark the following utility types.
- Water pipes
- Sewer lines
- Gas lines
- Electric lines
- Ethernet and fiber optic cable
- Telephone or communication cables
- Metal and concrete pipes
Why do the underground utility lines need to be marked?
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The markings serve as a guide to protect utility lines, so customers do not experience a disruption in service during excavation and digging projects. Representatives from each utility service go to locations where they were notified that digging will occur and mark their utility lines. They use service maps and ground-penetrating equipment to locate their utility and then identify its location on the surface using chalk, spray paint, tape, and/or flags. |
What do the different colors mean?
 The American Public Works Association (APWA) developed its uniform color code for marking underground utilities.
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Red – Electric
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Yellow – Gas, oil, or petroleum
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Orange – Communications
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Blue – Potable water (drinking water)
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Purple – Reclaimed water, irrigation (water that has been previously used, like from sinks or showers, and then treated to make it safe for re-use)
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Green – Sewer
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White – Proposed Excavation
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Pink – Temporary survey
Who marks the utilities?
Minnesota Gopher State One Call (GSOC) is the organization responsible for notifying utility companies about excavation work and ensuring utilities are marked. GSOC works by taking information from callers planning to excavate and then notifying the relevant utility companies, who then mark the locations of their underground utilities with paint or flags.
The utility companies themselves (or their contracted locators) mark their underground facilities with paint or flags.
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What to do before digging? Call 811 before you dig to avoid calling 911 later.
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If you plan to dig, you must notify GSOC at least 48 hours in advance (excluding the day of the request, weekends, and holidays).
To dig safely — and legally in Minnesota — you need to do three things:
- Call 811 at least two business days before you dig.
- Mark your yard so the locator knows where you're digging and can mark the utilities in your yard appropriately.
- Respect the locate marks and hand-dig carefully around them.
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Private Utilities
 With the utilities marked, the ground surface becomes an explosion of colors. You’re clear to start your project. Right? Wrong!
The law does not require ALL underground utilities to be indicated; the ones falling in the category of “private facilities” may go unmarked, including some electric and natural-gas facilities. Your in-ground sprinkler system probably will not be marked, along with a substantial portion of the sewer line under your yard. If there are gas or electric facilities buried after the meter (“downstream” from the meter in the directional flow) on your property, they may not be marked, either. These are all examples of “private facilities” that are not owned by the utility, but by the property owner and therefore not required to be marked by utility employees.
Considering this reality, what can you do to assure your safety and the integrity of your private facilities as you complete your project?
These actions will help.
Not the original owner? Make a call.
If you’re not the original property owner, it may be necessary to contact previous owners or long-time neighbors to determine whether private facilities were installed prior to your ownership.
Be a detective.
Look around the proposed excavation site for clues, including:
- A gas meter with no yellow markings on the property.
- An electric meter with no red markings on the property.
- In-ground sprinkler heads.
Have a city sewer or water system? You might need to make a call.
Water and sewer service lines on your property are considered “Private” underground utilities. For this reason the Blue water and Green sewer marks will be marked only in the public Right-of-Way (ROW). Please contact the water and sewer utility department for assistance in locating these private lines further into your property.
Joint Powers Water Board | 763-497-3611
11100 50th St NE #7900, Albertville, MN 55301
Monday - Wednesday | 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Thursday | 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Friday | 7:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Closed Saturday and Sunday
jointpowerswater.com
Locate your septic system.
Septic systems are private and will not be marked when you call 811. If you have a septic system, locate it (or hire a private locator). Mark it yourself so you can avoid damaging it.
Look for devices powered by gas or electricity.
Look for devices powered by gas or electricity, such as lights, grills, or heated swimming pools, that do not have markings leading to the device.
Consider hiring a private contractor.
If evidence suggests that private facilities are present in the ground where you will be working, consider hiring a private locator. A private locator is someone who will come to the job site and attempt to locate private, underground facilities.
Be safe!
Anytime an excavation occurs, care must be taken. Knowing what steps to take on your own, even after Gopher State One Call has been contacted, will assure a safe and successful project.
Information for this article is courtesy of softdig.com and the
Minnesota DPS – Office of Pipeline Safety
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