Undergoung Utilities and their Standard Colors

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. If there is a need to dig the ground, it is very important that the utility lines first be identified. Before digging through a certain piece of land, the OSHA requires that the underground utilities be located. Otherwise it can be something disastrous. If you hit any of the underground utility lines while digging then you can be fatally injured. It can also interrupt services in your area where the line is located. Before digging their property, people should call 811 to call the utility companies so that these incidents are prevented. Utility companies can then mark out their respective lines when you call them out.

Marking lines may lessen the risks but there are time when accidents still happen. It is said that every 6 minutes, there is a utility line that is struck. Traffic lights, wastewater pipes, telecommunication lines, etc. are affected when lines are struck. This is then something that affects public health and safety.

With the use of GPR or Ground Penetrating Radar, companies can locate utility lines. With this machine, companies can easily locate utility lines. However, for the ordinary homeowner, it is enough to simply call 811 to be able to let companies located their lines.

It is easier to identify underground utility lines today because they now use different colors for each utility. Here are the colors used for different utilities.

White lines are for proposed excavation sites. It locates areas that will be excavated in the near future.

Temporary survey markings use pink lines. Legal property boundaries are marked off by these pink lines.

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.

If you see yellow lines, then they are lines for gas, oil, steam, petroleum, and gaseous materials. Natural gas leaks can create potentially disastrous situations and this is why it is appropriate to use the bright yellow color.

If you see orange lines, then you should associate this with communication., alarm, signal lines, cable or conduit. If you see blue lines then these are lines for potable water. If you see purple lines, that this is for reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry lines. Sewer and drain lines use the color green. A project can be derailed for a long time when these utility lines are hit.

You can learn more about the color coding of utility lines if you click here now! View here for more.