On the eve of August 11, Pennsylvania American Water reminded consumers to call 8-1-1 prior to digging projects to have any underground utility lines marked. The 8-1-1 phone number, used in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, provides homeowners with a free service that identifies and safely marks underground utilities to avoid accidental outages and the disruption of critical services.

By calling 8-1-1 three days before digging, homeowners and contractors will be connected to PA One Call, which then notifies the appropriate utility companies of the plans to dig. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags, spray paint or both.

“The August 11 date (8/11) presents a special opportunity to remind customers and contractors to ‘call before you dig’ and eliminate the risk of striking an underground utility line,” said Jimmy Sheridan, vice president of operations for Pennsylvania American Water.

Sheridan said striking a single line can lead to injuries, repair costs, fines and inconvenient outages. Every digging project, no matter how large or small, warrants a call. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree and laying a patio are examples of digging projects that should prompt an 8-1-1 call. Visit the PA One Call website at www.pa811.org for more information about safe digging practices.

“It’s a free call and free service – a great value to ensure public safety,” said Sheridan.

The depth of utility lines can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. According to the Common Ground Alliance, an underground utility line is damaged during digging projects six minutes nationwide.

Pennsylvania American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 2.2 million people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more than 47 states and parts of Canada.

Pennsylvania American WaterTerry MaenzaT: 610-670-7789 ext. 1009M: 610-849-6484terry.maenza@amwater.com

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