Don’t Dig Until You Do This: The Essential Step for Safe Home Improvement Project
As the weather warms up, Kansans are eager to get started on their home improvement and gardening projects. But before the first shovel goes in the ground, there is an important step that every do-it-yourselfer must take.
Contact 811 or submit a request online through Kansas 811 at kansas811.com before you begin any excavation project. This free service is essential for projects big or small, from installing a mailbox to building a deck.
Why is this necessary?
You know your property, so why does someone else need to be contacted? Underground utilities, including natural gas lines, can vary in location and depth. Even if you think you know where those lines are, contacting 811 is an important first step to prevent damage and keep you and your community safe.
When you dig without contacting 811, you risk hitting a natural gas line, which can cause:
- Injuries or death
- Damage to underground lines
- Service disruptions for you and your neighbors
- Financial penalties
- Costly delays to your project
By contacting 811 or submitting a request at kansas811.com, professional locators will mark all of the underground facilities within the designated project area with flags and/or paint at no cost to the home or business owner. Once the project is marked, be aware of the tolerance zone: a minimum of 24 inches. Hand or soft dig techniques should be used within this area.
Take the Safe Digging Pledge!
Kansas residents can prioritize safety by taking the 2026 Safe Digging Pledge at beadigherokansas.com and recognizing the importance of contacting 811 before their shovels or excavating equipment hits the ground, regardless of the size of the digging project. By pledging to always contact 811 before digging, participants will be entered for a chance to win an $811 gift card.
Contacting 811 before you dig is a simple step that helps keep projects on track and communities safe. Learn more about safe digging and take the pledge at beadigherokansas.com for your chance to win an $811 gift card.
Digital Toolkit:
Access b-roll, Safe Digging Month flyer and graphics here.
About Kansas Gas Service
Kansas Gas Service provides a reliable and affordable energy choice to more than 653,000 customers in Kansas and is the largest natural gas distributor in the state in terms of customers. Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas Gas Service is a division of ONE Gas, Inc. (NYSE: OGS), a 100-percent regulated natural gas utility that trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “OGS.” ONE Gas is included in the S&P MidCap 400 Index and is one of the largest natural gas utilities in the United States.
For more information and the latest news about Kansas Gas Service, visit kansasgasservice.com and follow our social channels: @KansasGas, Facebook, LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/kansas-gas-service
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