Iowa One Call News Release

Des Moines, IA - (April 01, 2002) - Tackling fences, decks, tree plantings and other projects involving digging or excavating in your yard?  Weekend landscapers and remodelers need to beware: planting that new shade tree, sinking that corner-post or digging that new foundation could disturb a whole lot more than an unsuspecting mole.

You could disrupt telephone service, power, cable TV, water, sewer and a number of other underground utility lines.  Before any digging or excavation starts, Iowans need to know they should first call Iowa One Call at 1-800-292-8989 to have their utilities marked.  It's not only in their best interest, it's the law.

Iowans planning to dig are required to make the toll-free call at least 48 hours before digging.  The service is FREE to anyone who requests it.  Use of Iowa One Call eliminates the risk of service disruption in homeowners' and neighbors' yards.  It also greatly reduces risk of severe personal injury, and even death.  Use of Iowa One Call is mandated by Iowa law.  Substantial financial penalties may be imposed on individuals who disrupt utilities without using the service.

Iowa One Call is a non-profit 501(C)6 organization that coordinates utility locations and marking of underground utilities throughout the state.  Once the call is placed, Iowa One Call sends "locate requests" to all utilities involved.  At that point, the utility companies arrange to mark the underground utility locations with flags and paint markings - showing where to dig with caution.

Iowa One Call coordinates nearly 2 million such requests per year.  Iowa One Calls' 1,400 members include utility companies, universities, municipalities, cable television operators, and a variety of businesses and organizations involved in underground utility operations.