As states roll out infrastructure improvements such as new fiber builds, increasing the efficiency of the underground damage prevention process is essential to reducing delays and protecting communities

Common Ground Alliance (CGA) – the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities – today published the “DIRT Special Report: Uncovering Contributing Factors to Locating Practice Errors.” The report examines some of the underlying factors driving damages associated with locating practices, the root cause attributed to more than a third of all underground utility damage, across three case studies:

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Special Report: Google Fiber, North Carolina 811 and Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities identify drivers of risk and opportunities for improving underground utility locating practices

Expo showcased technologies to help prevent 14,000+ annual incidents of buried utilities damage in Colorado

Common Ground Alliance (CGA) – the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines and the people who dig near them, this week hosted its 2024 Annual CGA Conference & Expo at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. With 1,400 damage prevention leaders in attendance, the CGA Conference & Expo is the largest gathering of its kind in America.

More than 38 times each day on average in Colorado, buried power, water, gas, internet, and other utility lines are damaged by digging. That’s over 14,000 times each year that Coloradans’ lives and businesses are interrupted by damage to underground infrastructure. In fact, contractors were fined $500,000 for damaging 766 utility lines just in Colorado Springs alone. April is also National Safe Digging Month across the country.

“This was our largest-ever Conference & Expo, and it’s a testament to the growing importance of preventing damage to underground infrastructure that affects Coloradans 38 times each day,” said CGA President and CEO Sarah Magruder Lyle. “We thank Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado for the warm welcome to this beautiful state. And we’re grateful for the partnership of our attendees, sponsors, and Colorado 811 for helping share that preventing damage to the utilities we all rely on is a shared responsibility we can achieve together.”

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Common Ground Alliance Hosts Conference & Expo in Colorado on Preventing Utility Damages

During National Safe Digging Month in April, and throughout the year, homeowners must contact 811 before beginning all digging projects including gardening, building a fence or installing a mailbox

WASHINGTON (March 28, 2024) – In observance of National Safe Digging Month in April, Common Ground Alliance (CGA) – the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines, people who dig near them, and their communities – today announced results from a recent national survey which found 26.9 million homeowners planning do-it-yourself digging projects will not contact 811, putting themselves and their communities at risk of utility service disruptions, costly fines and repairs, and even serious injury or death.

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Survey Reveals 26.9 Million Americans Plan to Dig Without Contacting 811 First, Risking Disruption to Critical Services

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