Dig With Care

1. Call 811 to locate utility-owned pipelines and cables. Homeowners or contractors must call at least two business days before a digging project begins. The call is free and required by law. Not calling could cause an interruption of service or, worse, a safety hazard.
2. CoServ hires a third-party contractor, USIC, to locate its electric and gas lines. CoServ Gas and Electric lines are buried with a tracer wire. USIC runs a low-voltage current through the wire so the lines can be detected with a hand-held wand.
3. Please allow up to two business days for the lines to be marked.
4. Utility lines are located and marked with color-coded flags. Texas 811 uses a GIS map to identify all the utilities in the area and notifies them of the pending excavation. The lines are marked with color-coded flags to indicate the type of utility.
5. Don't dig near the flags, especially with heavy equipment.

Statewide, failure to call 811 is the leading cause of pipeline damage, according to the Texas Railroad Commission. If a gas line is nicked, scraped, dented, or punctured, leave the area immediately and call 911 and then call CoServ's Gas Emergency number at 844 330-0763. CoServ will respond to the call by dispatching crews to inspect the pipeline and make any necessary repairs.

Small flags in your neighborhood indicate a digging project is planned, and someone has called 811 to locate underground utility lines. Texas law requires homeowners, businesses and contractors to Call 811 at least two business days before digging.

Common Reasons for Flags:

• Installing a pool
• Building a fence
• Planting trees or landscaping
• Installing a mailbox
• Installing a sprinkler system
• Any chore or maintenance that requires digging