The Importance of Colors of Underground Utility Lines

If you find underground utilities, you can easily determine what type of utility it is for. However, a long time ago, it was difficult to identify these utility lines and so when people try to dig there were many risks involved. Today, the risks have been lessened although not completely eliminated. It is thus important that we know how to identify these underground utilities if there is a need to dig the ground so that you can prevent harm. The OSHA requires that utilities underground first be located before digging through a piece of land. It is to prevent disaster. The worst thing that can happen if lines are not identified is that fatal injuries can happen. The location of the areas where the lines were struck can experience service interruption. To prevent these types of incidents, it is important for property owners to call 811 so utility companies can identify their undergoing lines. When the number is called, you can let the utility companies come out and mark their respective lines.

Sometimes, even if the lines are marked accidents still happen. It is said that every 6 minutes, there is a utility line that is struck. When utility lines are stuck it causes disturbances in traffic lights wastewater pipes, telecommunication lines and more. This is then something that affects public health and safety.

With the use of GPR or Ground Penetrating Radar, companies can locate utility lines. This has made it easier to locate utility lies underground and other important things. Companies can locate their utility lines if any property owner calls 811.

There are certain colors that mark different utility lines for easy identification. Below are some of the colors used for different utility lines.

Proposed excavation sites use white lines. It locates areas that will be excavated in the near future.

Pink lines are temporary survey markings. These are used by surveyors to mark off legal property boundaries.

If you see red lines, then you can be sure that these are electric power lines, cable, conduit, and lighting cables. The color red is associated with fire and danger so it is just appropriate to use it for electrical works.

Lines for gas, oil, steam, petroleum, and gaseous materials use the color yellow. Bright yellow is an appropriate warning color since it is very disastrous to have a natural gas leak.

Communication, alarm, signal lines, cable, or conduit use orange lines. If you see blue lines then these are lines for potable water. Reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines used purple lines. If you see the color green, then it indicates sewer and drain lines. You can derail any project for a long time if you hit these lines.

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