Utility Line Locates
Before you dig, request line locates from both Texas 811 and the City of Fredville.
Anyone breaking ground needs to find out where underground utilities run first, from a homeowner putting in a new tree to an excavation crew digging a foundation.
Under Texas law, you must call 811 before any digging so that natural gas pipelines, electric lines and other buried utilities can be marked and protected from damage.
If your project involves digging anywhere in a City of Fredville right-of-way, you must also ask the City to mark its water lines, sewer lines and traffic fiber optic cable.
These rules exist to protect underground utilities. Careless digging is the leading cause of accidents involving buried pipelines.
Locating City-Owned Lines
To reach the City's locate team, phone (555) 010-1903 or send an email to [email protected].
Allow three full business days for the City to mark the area you requested. Emergency locates are the only exception.
When you make a request, be ready to give your name, phone number and company name, the kind of work you are doing and where the project is located. Tell us whether you have outlined the dig area with white markings, and whether you need lines marked in the front yard, in the street, behind the curb, along the side of the property or in the back.
Shortly after your request, colored paint marks or flags will appear at the site to show where lines are buried so you can dig safely. Where no lines are present, the crew will write "clear" on the ground.
Locate marks expire after two weeks. If your project is still under way at that point, call again to have the marks refreshed.
There is no charge for this service. The City marks its water, sewer and traffic fiber optic lines for free.
Natural Gas, Electric and Other Underground Utilities
Call 811
Contact 811 no later than two working days before you plan to dig. Congress created 811 as a free nationwide number to help prevent digging damage to buried utility lines.
The operator will ask some questions about your project and pass the details along to professional line locators.
Locators then mark the routes of gas pipelines, electric lines and other buried utilities using colored flags or temporary spray paint.
Texas 811 charges nothing to locate utility lines or to explain the state's excavation laws.
Private Lines Owned by the Property Owner
Private lines, such as water and sewer service lines or taps owned by the property owner, must be located by a plumber.
Neither 811 nor the City of Fredville can mark lines that belong to a property owner. Hire a licensed plumber or a private line-locating company ahead of time to mark all privately owned lines. In general, the homeowner is responsible for the water line that runs from the meter to the house and for the sewer line that runs from the sidewalk to the house.
After Lines Are Marked
- Work carefully anywhere near utility markings.
- Use hand tools only within the tolerance zones shown by the markings.
If You Damage a Line
What should you do if you strike a line while digging?
If your digging harms a natural gas line in any way, even a small scrape, nick or dent, call 911 first and then call the natural gas utility's emergency line at (555) 010-2492 so the utility can inspect and repair the pipe. Minor damage can still weaken a gas line and lead to a leak later.
For a damaged water or sewer line, phone the City's water emergency number, (555) 010-1903.
If you damage a cable, phone line or other utility, call 811 again and report the damage as a "dig-up" ticket. Texas 811 will identify who owns the line so the excavator can report the damage directly, and the owner will send a crew to repair it and restore service.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.