Tennessee 811 warns spring projects carry hidden underground risks

JACKSON, Tenn. — A new national survey shows 74% of homeowners plan to do a project that involves digging this spring.

Tennessee 8-1-1 says the big problem is people thinking their project is too small or too shallow to be a risk. The survey estimates more than 10 million homeowners nationwide may dig without contacting 8-1-1 first.

“The biggest misconception is not understanding what all is below ground. You think you’d see the power lines, right, but you have to think there’s natural gas, there’s water, there’s wastewater, there’s communication lines, so a lot of people just see the grass and don’t know exactly what’s under there,” said Robert Mullins, senior vice president of water and wastewater at Jackson Energy Authority.

The Tennessee Public Utility Commission says in 2025 it investigated more than 400 complaints connected to possible violations of state law. It says that resulted in mandatory training and $128,000 in fines.

“I have my own personal experience where a neighbor was putting in a mailbox using a post hole digger right out by the street, struck the water main, and about 20 of us lost our water for a full 24 hours, so you don’t want to be that person that takes out the water for the whole weekend, right? So, it could be very serious or just annoying and just making your neighbors upset with you so you just don’t want to take those chances,” said Marcus Bartholomew, manager of damage prevention outreach for Tennessee 8-1-1.

How to dig safely

Step one: contact 8-1-1. Step two: tell them your address and where you plan to dig. Step three: mark your dig area with white paint or white flags if you can, then wait.

State law gives utilities up to 72 hours, or three working days, to mark lines. Calling 8-1-1 or submitting a ticket online is free.

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