Contact 811 before you dig
Whether you're excavating, gardening or installing - contact 811 before breaking any ground. It's the law.
Gotta Dig? Gotta Contact 811!
Digging and excavation work are the most common causes of natural gas emergencies. Property owners and professional excavators should contact (LDC link) at least three business days before digging to have all underground utilities marked.
Professional locators will be dispatched to mark the approximate location of the underground utility lines with flags, paint, or both free of charge. Marking the lines helps protect the underground utility lines, you and your family, and your community.
Dig with C.A.R.E.
Nicor Gas encourages property owners and contractors to follow these safe digging guidelines and always dig with C.A.R.E. (Contact, Allow, Respect, and Excavate)
Contact 811 before digging: Before beginning any digging project, contact 811 at least three business days in advance to request that underground utility lines be marked. Professional locators will mark all underground utility lines for free.
Allow time needed to mark: After contacting 811, wait for underground utility lines to be marked before digging. Locators will mark the approximate location of the underground utility lines with specific colors depending on the utility. The color used for natural gas is yellow.
Respect marks:
Once lines are marked, use only hand-held digging tools in the area around the markings. If you are within 24 inches of a marked utility line, dig by hand. This will help prevent any damage to underground utility lines.
Excavate carefully:
Make sure the marks remain visible during the project. If markings are damaged or removed, contact 811 to have the lines marked again.
Smell Gas? Act Fast!
Natural gas is a colorless, odorless fuel. As a safety precaution, we add a chemical odorant called mercaptan that gives natural gas an odor often associated with rotten eggs. If a natural gas line is accidentally damaged or you smell the distinctive smell, call 911 and the Nicor Gas 24-hour hotline at 888-Nicor4U (888.642-6748) from a safe location. Do not operate any machinery or equipment that could cause a spark.
Know Your Flags
Proposed Excavation
Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit
Potable Water
Reclaimer Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines
Temporary Survey Markings
Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit and Lighting Cables
Sewer and Drain Lines
Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Gaseous Materials
Safety Activities for Kids
Hi, kids! I’m Sniffy. As a skunk, I’m an expert in stinky odors—like the “rotten egg” smell that’s added to natural gas. That yucky smell lets you know if there’s a possible natural gas leak.
Try these fun activities to learn more about natural gas:
- Learn about natural gas in this word search
- Print my picture and color it
- Help me find my way out of this maze
- Ask your parents to help you with some amazing science experiments
Teach your whole family about what to do if they smell the rotten egg odor of natural gas. Everyone should know what to do if they think they smell a possible natural gas leak at home, school, at the mall—anywhere! Leave! Then call 877.427.4321 or 911 for help.
Additional Links
Check out these links for additional information about safe digging:
Partners
JULIE
JULIE provides a free notification service for homeowners and professional excavators to use to request the location of underground utilities before they dig.
AGA
The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies.
Dig with C.A.R.E.
Nicor Gas encourages property owners and contractors to follow these safe digging guidelines and always Dig with C.A.R.E. (Contact, Allow, Respect, and Excavate)
Contact 811 before digging: Before beginning any digging project, contact 811 at least three business days in advance to request that underground utility lines be marked. Professional locators will mark your underground utility lines for free. This includes natural gas, electric, water, sewer, telephone, and cable lines.
Allow time needed to mark: After contacting 811, wait for underground utility lines to be marked before digging. Locators will mark the approximate location of the underground utility lines with specific colors depending on the utility. The color used for natural gas is yellow.
Respect marks: Once lines are marked, use only hand-held digging tools in the area around the markings. If you are within 24 inches of a marked utility line, dig by hand. This will help prevent any damage to underground utility lines.
Excavate carefully: Make sure the marks remain visible during the project. If markings are damaged or removed, contact 811 to have the lines marked again.
Know Your Flags
Proposed Excavation
Temporary Survey Markings
Communication, Alarm or Signal Lines, Cables or Conduit
Electric Power Lines, Cables, Conduit and Lighting Cables
Potable Water
Sewer and Drain Lines
Reclaimer Water, Irrigation and Slurry Lines
Gas, Oil, Steam, Petroleum or Gaseous Materials
Safety Activities for Kids
Hi, kids! I’m Sniffy. As a skunk, I’m an expert in stinky odors—like the “rotten egg” smell that’s added to natural gas. That yucky smell lets you know if there’s a possible natural gas leak.
Try these fun activities to learn more about natural gas:
- Learn about natural gas in this word search
- Print my picture and color it
- Help me find my way out of this maze
- Ask your parents to help you with some amazing science experiments
Teach your whole family about what to do if they smell the rotten egg odor of natural gas. Everyone should know what to do if they think they smell a possible natural gas leak at home, school, at the mall—anywhere! Leave! Then call 877.427.4321 or 911 for help.
Partners
JULIE
JULIE provides a free notification service for homeowners and professional excavators to use to request the location of underground utilities before they dig.
AGA
The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies.
It's 811 Man to the Rescue
Our favorite utility safety advocate is back! 811 Man is digging deep into his fan mailbag (and YES, he contacted 811 first!) to field some common 811 questions.
You know to contact 811 before EVERY digging project, but what happens next? What do the flags actually mean, and what if they get moved?
811 Man answers these questions and more in his latest video!
Check out his latest video!
811 Man: Reading Fan Mail
811 is the FREE national call-before-you-dig phone number. Anyone who plans to dig should contact 811 two to three business days before digging to have all underground utilities marked.
His superpowers may be limited, but 811 Man's message can help keep you and our communities safe.
811 Man wants you to know:
- Contacting 811 is free!
- By identifying buried utility lines before digging or excavating, you can prevent injury, damage or worse.
Diggin' 811 Man? Watch his videos:
811 Man!
Contact 811 before you dig. Protect yourself, your community and the infrastructure that makes daily life possible.