Are you beginning a project on your property? Before you reach for that shovel or start digging, there is an important step that needs to happen first: locating underground lines.

The following are two locating services that are available to keep you safe from coming into contact with any underground lines:

Call 811

811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Anyone who plans to dig is legally required to call 811 or visit Indiana811.org to request the approximate location of buried utilities, which will be marked with paint or flags. This service is provided for free to ensure you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.

Indiana law requires you contact 811 at least two full working days prior to digging, including common projects like planting trees or installing fences and mailboxes.

Contact Blood Hound

We encourage members who believe they have privately-owned buried lines to contact Blood Hound.

The law requires you to call 811 for public utilities to be marked before you dig, but public utilities will only locate those lines they own – electric, gas, telephone, etc. There are a large number of underground utilities that are privately owned, which is where Blood Hound comes in.

This service locates all underground utilities and structures to reduce your risk of damages and project delays.

Call 888-858-9830 or visit bhug.com to schedule work.

I’ve made the calls. Now what?

Once you’ve ensured all utility and other buried lines (including privately owned underground cables and pipes) have been marked, dig carefully around any utility marks and consider relocating any projects that are close to buried lines.