NORTH DAKOTA ( KXNET ) — The date 8/11 should serve as a reminder for those who are embarking on a digging project to call 811 before starting.

Montana-Dakota Utilities says this should be done beforehand to check for underground utility lines and have them marked.

When homeowners and contractors call 811, they are connected to a local call center, which then notifies the appropriate utility companies of the digging intention. Requests can also be made online .

Professionals are sent to the requested site to mark the locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint, or both — this is a free service.

Hitting a line can result in injury, repair costs, fines, and inconvenient outages.

Every project — including the installation of a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio — warrants an 811 call.

“On August 11, and throughout the year, we remind homeowners and professional contractors alike to contact 811 a few days before digging to eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said the Director of Operation Services at MDU, Mike Schoepp. “We rely on important utilities to connect us and keep us safe at home, so contacting 811 is the only way to know which utilities are buried in your area so you can dig safely.”

The depth of the lines can vary, but they need to be marked properly — even digging a few inches causes a risk of hitting a line.

You can visit this website for more safe digging practices.

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