Iowa Statewide — It’s the time of year that digging tools are brought out for one reason or another. Some people are gardening, some are landscaping, others are digging foundations for buildings, or other heavy construction work. It’s a good time to remind everyone to call 811 or visit iowaonecall.com before they dig.
We talked with Ben Booth, who is the Public Relations Manager for Iowa One Call. He says April is Nationwide Safe Digging Month.
(as said:)”We call attention to all excavators — and that doesn’t just mean professional contractors and excavators — it means everyone homeowners: people who are out now that spring is upon us and planning to dig in their yards to do all of their wonderful landscaping projects. In most states, it is a law that you must call the one-call notification system or go online and do a ticket. And in Iowa that is true; it is a requirement you have to notify Iowa one call at least 48 hours in advance of any excavation and that does not include Saturdays Sundays or legal holidays.”
He says you’ll be asked a series of questions and you’ll have to give some details about your area of digging. He says it’s a free service, and that Iowa One Call contacts the utilities in your area and they line up locators to come to the property and mark the locations of all underground utilities.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, you may be thinking that the people who respond to your Iowa One Call request might be operating on limited staff, or it might take longer for them to respond. However — it might be counter-intuitive — but Booth says you should NOT call early — because Iowa law says the utilities MUST mark within 48 hours of your call, whether you’re going to dig right then, or a number of days later.
(as said:)”It’s important to understand that a notice to Iowa One Call expires after 20 calendar days. So you have a valid locate notice for 20 days. If you call — you think you’re going to do a job…let’s say in two weeks — 14 days — the locators still have to mark that within 48 hours. That’s what the law says. So they’ll scramble and try to get out and do that if they get a notice today. If you’re not really going to do your job for 14 days, refrain from calling in right now. You know, plan accordingly. If you’re going to work on the weekend two weekends from now, call the week of — on Wednesday — that way the 48 hours won’t expire before the weekend is upon you.”
He says a locator may reach out to you and ask when you’re going to do the digging and possibly request an alternate locating schedule.
Reach Iowa One Call at iowaonecall.com or by simply calling 811 on your phone.
