April is recognized by Virginia and across the U.S. as National Safe Digging Month (NSDM). As temperatures rise and spring digging projects begin, it serves as an important reminder to contact Virginia 811 Before You Dig.
Whether you’re a professional excavator, contractor, or homeowner, Virginians play a crucial role in preventing damage to underground utilities. Regardless of the project’s scale, contacting Virginia 811 to request utility line markings before digging helps avoid physical injury, property damage, costly repairs, and service interruptions.
It’s often surprising for homeowners to learn that shallow digging is still digging. Simple projects like landscaping, fencing, or installing a mailbox can be dangerous and disruptive without knowing the locations of underground utility lines such as electric, communications, natural gas, water, and sewer lines. So knowing what’s below, no matter how deep you’re digging, is critical to safety.
Virginia 811 is conveniently accessible 24/7 online at VA811.com. Submitting an online locate request is quick and free of charge. You can also reach Virginia 811 by dialing 8-1-1. Once a locate request is submitted, utility companies are notified, and their locators are dispatched to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with spray paint, using specific colors to indicate the types of utilities marked.
Kick off the digging season safely. Contact Virginia 811 before you dig and dig with C.A.R.E.
Professionals
National Safe Digging Month marks the start of another busy digging season and reminds us of our shared responsibility to reduce damages to vital infrastructure by committing to safe digging practices and raising awareness of Virginia 811 services.
Help us spread the word, raise awareness, and promote the Dig with CARE message across all your marketing and media channels. Working together, we can effectively elevate understanding about the importance of safe digging best practices.
Here are some shareable resources to kick off
National Safe Digging Month
Governor Glenn Youngkin April Safe Digging Month Proclamation
Download the proclamation to share on your channels.
Ditch Witch April Safe Digging Month Sweepstakes Campaign
During the month of April, enter the Ditch Witch April Safe Digging Month Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of two $250 WeatherTech® gift cards.
Locator Appreciation Week Social Media Campaign
April 22 – 28, 2024
In celebration of Locator Appreciation Week (April 22 – 28, 2024), Virginia 811 is launching a Facebook sweepstakes challenge to honor these hardworking individuals. Daily challenges are designed to be quick to answer and quickly completed during a typical workday for a chance to win some great prizes. We aim to show appreciation without stress and bring fun to the week. It’s our way of saying thank you for your hard work and dedication.
Contest Participation Made Easy:
- Visit VA811’s Facebook page every day next week at facebook.com/VA811/.
- LIKE the day’s Locator Appreciation Sweepstakes Challenge post.
- Respond to the question in the comments section.
Other Contest Details:
- The first challenge will be posted on Monday, April 22, at 7:00 AM.
- Daily winners will be announced the following day at 7:00 AM.
- One participant will be chosen as the winner each day starting from Tuesday, April 23, until Friday, April 26.
- Each day’s challenge winner will receive one of four randomly selected prizes.
- Winners will be notified via Facebook Messenger and asked to provide their mailing address and the name of the organization they work for.
Let’s make this week a celebration of the fantastic job locators perform every day.
Please help us spread the word and be on the lookout for Virginia 811’s first challenge question post on Monday, April 22nd.