Saturday, October 10, 2009 - Beautiful fall days, fall cleanup is on! Here's a reminder from NW Natural.
NW Natural's Jenna Cooper-Gross reminds us what it's all about
PORTLAND, Ore. – Across the Northwest, homeowners are getting their yards ready for the winter. That means repairing a fence, planting trees or preparing a new garden bed for next year. But before you put the shovel in the ground, there’s another tool you should always use: your phone.
NW Natural reminds homeowners to call 811 to make sure their fall chores go safely and smoothly. With that call, a utility locator will visit your home to mark the location of any underground utilities – so you can stay clear of them when you dig.
“We’re all eager to take advantage of the last days of autumn to finish those last minute projects, but our customers should know, they need to call 811 first,” said Jenna Cooper-Gross with NW Natural. “Homeowners and contractors need to realize, it’s not just a good idea – it’s also the law.”
An individual who fails to call 811 and digs into an underground utility line – sewer, water, telephone, electric or natural gas – can be held liable for any damages. In addition, Oregon and Washington laws require anyone digging or excavating to call for utility location at least two business days before starting the project.
Since the 811 number has been in place nationally, Cooper-Gross said, more and more people are taking advantage of the free one-call system. The 811 call triggers contacts to all utilities, making it easy and efficient for a locating team to visit the site promptly.
As a result of the new, more memorable number and a coordinated educational effort, underground utility damage is falling every year. That means improved public safety and fewer interruptions for homeowners and contractors.
Call or Click Dialing 811 will reach the Utility Notification Center of Oregon and Southwest Washington located in Portland. Utility marking can also be scheduled online at callbeforeyoudig.org. The call center operator will notify the appropriate local utilities that then send the necessary crews to mark the area free of charge.
Utility Notification Center
The Utility Notification Center is the agency that administers the "One-Call" system. The agency is dedicated to safeguarding citizens and construction personnel who work around utilities, as well as safeguarding the underground infrastructure of pipes, mains and lines. The Utility Notification Center is open 24 hours a day, every day, and accepts calls from contractors, homeowners, or anyone planning to dig in Oregon and Washington.
NW Natural reminds customers that if they smell rotten eggs and suspect a natural gas leak:
Do not use the telephone. This includes cellular phones and all types of portable communication and electronic devices that have a battery. These can spark and create a source of ignition.
Do not light matches or create any other source of ignition.
Do not operate any electrical switch, including lights, appliances and automatic garage door openers. This could create a spark, which could ignite gas.
Do evacuate everyone from the area.
Do leave the door open when leaving the house or building.
Do call the NW Natural emergency line from a safe location outside of the area at 800-882-3377.
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