Call Before You Dig Checklist

Know what’s below

Before you break ground with a shovel, auger, or other equipment, click or call 811 at least two full business days before you dig – it’s the law. A utility representative will mark the location of your buried utility lines in the requested dig area or indicate the area is clear of buried Avista utilities. The service is free. Privately owned lines can be located by a third party for a fee.

Click or call 811 before you dig checklist

Never disturb the ground until you complete these steps:

• Use white paint to mark the zone where you plan to dig
• Click or call 811 and wait for the utility representative to mark the facilities owned by Avista
• Maintain and respect these locate marks
• If your located ticket expires and you intend to continue digging, you must re-notify 811
• Carefully hand dig within the 24-inch tolerance zone to expose the marked utility

If you damage, hit, or nick an electric or natural gas line, immediately notify Avista customer service at (800) 227-9187. If you damage a pipeline and natural gas is escaping, DO NOT FOLD OVER THE PIPE to seal the leak. Static charge can ignite the gas. Walk upwind a safe distance away, then call 911 and Avista.

Ground mark identification

Ground markings are in different colors to indicate the locations and types of utility facilities buried below. These markings are only valid for a limited time. If you need to keep digging after that time, you must contact 811 to update your locate ticket. Dig laws can change and are different in each state. Visit 811beforeyoudig.com to find the most current information for your area.