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The Importance of Verifying 811 Utility Locates

Precision is paramount when it comes to utility locating. At Know Before You Dig Locates, we specialize in private utility locates, and a key part of our service involves verifying the accuracy of public locates provided through Texas 811. Unfortunately, we often encounter errors in these public locates.


A common issue arises when technicians fail to properly de-bond or remove common grounds for utilities. At both residential and commercial properties, it's typical for power, communication, and water utilities to share a common ground. This common grounding can cause the signal used to locate to split and bleed across all connected utilities, leading to signal distortion. The result? Erroneous locates that can have serious consequences.


For instance, we frequently find power lines marked in the same location as communication lines. In reality, these lines might diverge significantly, potentially running through the work area of our customers. Such inaccuracies can lead to damaging critical infrastructure, incurring additional costs, and causing delays in projects.


To illustrate the importance of accurate locates, consider this photo. It shows a monitoring well in the bottom right of the photo drilled just six inches from a marked gas line. This near miss raises serious questions: Did the installer get proper locates? Was the original 811 locate erroneous? We find mistake like this all the time and such close calls highlight the critical need for thorough verification.


To mitigate these risks, our team meticulously verifies every 811 public locate while we locate the privately-owned buried facilities at your work site. By taking the time to de-bond utilities and ensure clear, distinct signals for each buried service line, we can provide our customers with precise locates that prevent unnecessary hazards and disruptions.


Taking the extra step to verify 811 marks not only safeguards the integrity of underground utility infrastructure but also ensures the smooth and safe completion of any excavation project. Trust in our expertise to provide the accuracy you need for peace of mind and project success.

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