Arizona Blue Stake was established by utility owners as a one-call notification system to assist local homeowners and excavators in identifying the location of underground utilities to prevent damages to facilities.
Notify the Arizona Blue Stake Center at least two (2) working days (excluding weekends and legal holidays) before excavating to have all underground pipelines and facilities located and marked.
Calling 811 will help save lives and protect infrastructure. Knowing where underground utility lines are buried before each digging project begins helps protect you from personal injury, expense and penalties. There may be multiple utility lines in the same area at varying depths. Even simple digging projects can damage utility lines and disrupt vital services to an entire community. Having underground utilities located can help prevent undesired consequences
Wait for the project site to be marked by all utility owners. Once all utilities have been properly located, you are officially ready to dig.
Respect and protect the marks. Have utility lines re-marked if initial markings are more than fifteen (15) days old.
Use caution when digging. Always hand dig within two feet of either side of any marked line. Some utility lines may be buried at a shallow depth, and an unintended shovel
Be Aware utility companies may not mark where the line continues into your property (anything on your property is considered privately owned and maintained.
If damage occurs, notify the appropriate facility owner IMMEDIATLY.
Each marking represents the location of the underground facilities and the color represents the type of utility (gas, water, electric, communication, etc…). These marks are temporary and fade with time.
White– proposed excavation
Pink– Temporary Survey
Red– Electric, traffic signals and street lights
Yellow– natural gas, petroleum, nitrogen, butane, and propane.
Orange– Communication, cable television, fiber optics
Blue water systems, slurry pipes, irrigation and wells
Purple– reclaimed water
Green– Sanitary Sewer Systems
There is a penalty for failure to comply. Owners of underground facilities must locate and mark all their facilities at that location within 48 hours. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to $ 5000. You or a contractor cannon begin excavating until all utilities have been marked or be subject to a maximum fine of $ 5000.
Information courtesy of:
Arizona Blue Stake
Arizona Corporation Commission
City of Mesa
City of Scottsdale
