FAQs

The excavator to ensure all correct information is collected about the dig site and the appropriate steps are taken to protect the underground facilities and the excavators.” Do not use old markings or another excavator’s locate request. Another excavator’s request may not accurately describe the proposed dig site which could result in a damage to a facility and/or injury. Therefore, the person/company doing the digging should submit the locate request.

No. OKIE811 is a notification center that collects all the excavation details and transmits the information to the companies that have their underground facilities registered with us, which are members of OKIE811. The member companies are responsible for marking any facilities that they own or maintain.

The approximate location of the underground facility is defined by law as a strip of land two (2) feet on either side of the underground facility. Remember to include the width of the facility!

Some service lines extending from the property easement to the house belong to the homeowner and are considered privately owned. “Member companies may or may not mark service lines, but will not mark private lines. For private lines, local electricians, plumbers or a contract locator may be able to help you. The best course of action may be to contact the individual facility owner or operator.” For safety reasons, it’s important to know the location of these lines prior to excavation.

Examples of private lines: Water facilities from a meter to a home; Sewer lateral to a home; Electric line running to swimming pool pumps and heaters, irrigation systems or another building on the property.

OKIE811 does not obtain or have information on the depth of underground facilities. Please contact the utility companies for that information. Please know the depth of an underground facility can change due to erosion, landscaping, etc.

An emergency request is notifying underground facility operators that digging is taking place within 48 hours due to endangerment to life, health, or property. Please give the operators as much notice as possible, and they will try to respond. If digging must take place before locating is complete, dig with care and practice due diligence to prevent damage.

Business days are weekdays Monday through Friday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. This does not include legal holidays. Ticket submission times are based on the business days and should be taken into consideration for planning purposes. You may call in your locate request during Contact Center operating hours or submit a 3 business day web request 24 hours a day 7 days a week. If a legal holiday falls during a business day, the Contact Center will only process emergency requests by telephone.

A member is required to respond to the excavator’s locate request by either marking the ground with flags and/ or paint or by contacting the excavator via phone, fax or email within 3 business days . If neither have been done please contact OKIE811 to send out a second request. It is highly recommended that you do not dig until you have a response from all utility owners listed on your locate request.

In order to get the facility repaired, you need to contact the owner of the facility and notify them damage has occurred. If your excavation is not complete or you need to have the facilities relocated, please contact our contact center and we can request the locators to return to the site to relocate the lines.

The service is FREE to anyone who digs—excavators, contractors, renters, residents, homeowners, business owners/operators, farmers and ranchers.

Since time is crucial for the customer service representative, locator and excavator, be sure to inform the customer service representative of any special instructions or needs you may have during the call. Make arrangements to secure pets and unlock gates to eliminate unnecessary travel time for the line locators. The locator may or may not return. If the locator has not returned within the 3 business days time period, please call back for a second request.