Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
GENERAL LOCATING QUESTIONS
What is a Utility? A utility is any entity—private landowner, utility company, municipality, or authority—that owns or operates buried infrastructure.
What is Utility Infrastructure / Underground Infrastructure / Facility / Plant? These terms refer to buried cables, pipes, conduits, or structures used to gather, store, or convey services. Sometimes inaccurately referred to as "utilities."
What is Ground Disturbance? Any activity that disturbs soil below the surface. This includes digging, trenching, boring, post installation, stump removal, grading, topsoil stripping, concrete coring, and more.
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What is an Excavator? Anyone who performs excavation or ground disturbance activities.
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Do I need a locate for fence posts or tree planting? Yes. Even seemingly minor digging tasks like fence post holes or planting trees can strike buried utilities. You must always call 811 and consider a private locate depending on the scope.
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What do the different spray paint colour markings mean? Each colour identifies a type of buried facility (e.g., red = electric, yellow = gas). Read our blog post on colour codes for the full breakdown: What Do Utility Marking Colors Mean?
What are Know Before You Dig Locates’ hours of operation? Monday–Friday: 7 AM – 7 PM CST. We also offer emergency after-hours service at an increased rate. Call 1-800-905-8204 for emergencies only.
PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE LOCATES
What is buried public utility infrastructure? These are facilities owned and maintained by utility companies up to the meter or demarcation point. Public locates are provided free through Texas811.
What is buried private utility infrastructure? These facilities are beyond the demarcation point (e.g., pool heater gas lines, water lines after the meter, private electric and comm lines). They are the landowner's responsibility.
What is a Private Locate Service Provider (LSP) or Private Locator? A private LSP is hired by landowners or excavators to locate private utilities. As this sector is unregulated, it’s important to qualify any LSP by checking training, insurance, procedures, and equipment.
I don’t want to call 811! Can Know Before You Dig locate everything for me? By law, 811 must be contacted for public utility locates before excavation. We do not replace public locates, but we do verify and interpret public locate markings as part of our private locate process.
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Is private locating required by law in Texas? No, but it's a best practice. Texas law requires you to call 811 for public utilities. If you're digging beyond demarcation points or into areas with private lines, a private locate is essential to avoid damage.
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Can Know Before You Dig mark a public buried facility to show me where it is? Yes—but only for design or planning purposes. We follow SUE standards and use pink markings to show approximations. These are not valid for excavation.
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Why do I need to obtain utility drawings from the private landowner? Landowners often have critical records or knowledge of past installations. These help mitigate risk when utilities can't be fully located using tools alone.
PRIVATE LOCATE SERVICES & BOOKING
How do I get my privately-owned buried facilities located?
Just complete our online form to request a locate. We handle the rest.
How much does a private locate cost?
We charge hourly for travel and site time. The cost depends on how many buildings and facilities we must trace—not the size of the dig site.
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How do I book a private locate?
You can book a locate online or call 1-800-905-8204.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept credit cards, direct deposit, Zelle, and cheques (for existing clients). New clients must pay by credit card upon completion.
LOCATING EQUIPMENT & METHODS
What equipment does Know Before You Dig use?
Our technicians use EM locators, ground penetrating radar (GPR), sondes, push cameras, sewer robots, acoustic pipe locators, magnetometers, and duct rodders. We apply the right tool based on the conditions and utility type.
What’s the difference between EM locating and GPR?
EM locating detects signals on conductive utilities, while GPR sends radar into the ground to detect anomalies. EM is ideal for tracing metal pipes and cables; GPR is useful for non-metallic or unknown lines. Read our GPR vs EM comparison blog for more.
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Can you locate non-metallic or non-toneable pipes?
Yes. We use acoustic pipe locators, GPR, and physical tracing with duct rodders or sondes to identify non-metallic infrastructure.
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Do you verify 811 marks during a private locate?
Yes—we verify public locate accuracy while performing our private locate. This ensures a complete picture of what’s underground.
LOCATE LIMITATIONS & RISK MANAGEMENT
What is a limitation on a locate report?
A limitation is a condition that prevented us from providing a complete or accurate locate. It increases the risk of a utility strike.
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What is an example of a limitation?
Unavoidable Limitations:
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Non-toneable facilities
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Congested infrastructure
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Unmarked directional changes
Avoidable Limitations:
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No site drawings or records
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No access to utility rooms or mechanical areas
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Snow cover, overgrowth, or parked vehicles
​What do I do with a limitation on my report? You must treat the area as higher risk. Mitigation options include:
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Avoiding the work area
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Hand digging only
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Vacuum excavation if possible
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If a utility is missed and damaged, who is responsible?
Liability depends on the circumstances, but responsibility may fall on the public locator, private locator, landowner, or excavator—or a combination of them. Factors include record access, communication, site access, and whether known limitations were ignored. Responsibility isn't always clear-cut, which is why documentation, verification, and qualified locators are critical. Read our full blog on locate liability here: Utility Locate Liability: Who’s Responsible for Missed Locates?
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