WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Thank you for submitting your locate request to Indiana 811. What’s next? The following information will be helpful to you.
- Make sure the locate technicians have access to the proposed excavation area and that there are no animals present at the site.
- You are responsible for having private lines marked on the property. Private lines are lines that are owned and maintained by the property owner. These may include but are not limited to, water and sewer lines from the meter to the home, septic lines, or underground lines servicing pools, grills, homeowner lighting, and outbuildings. Find out more information about private locating.
- If facility locates are required, the member utilities shall respond by marking their lines at the proposed excavation area in the color code representing their facility.
- Before work can commence, Indiana Law requires that you check Indiana 811’s Positive Response system to verify that all member utilities have responded. Once responses are viewed, this information is logged within the system. To check responses, do one of the following:
- If you have an Exactix account, log in and view the Responses tab from within the ticket.
- If you do not have an Exactix account, enter the ticket number and phone number using this tool to view the ticket text and responses.
How to View Positive Response with an Exactix Account
How to View Positive Response without an Exactix Account
- A list of the Positive Response codes used can be found here.
- Contact Indiana 811 or 800-382-5544 after viewing the responses if:
- There is no response listed by the requested start date and time.
- The response indicates the markings are not complete by the requested start date and time.
- The response states to contact Indiana 811.
- You have questions concerning the provided response.
- Now that the members have responded, you can begin digging with care.
- The law mandates a two-foot tolerance zone on either side of the marks which means all outer limits of the underground facility, including above, below, and in a full radius surrounding the underground facility. In the tolerance zone, only certain types of excavation are allowed, such as only being permitted to dig with hand tools. The size of the tolerance zone will depend on the size of the underground facility, which is sometimes noted by the utility locating technicians.
- Example: If a water line is marked as six inches wide, the tolerance zone on all sides of the line is two feet three inches from the mark. Only use mechanical equipment outside of the tolerance zone. When working within the tolerance zone, be sure to expose the line(s) by safely digging using soft digging techniques such as digging with hand tools. Learn more by reading the Indiana Dig Law.
- Locate requests are valid until 11:59pm ET on the 20th calendar day from the date submitted. If the digging will not be completed by that date, the markings become no longer visible, or your work location has changed, contact Indiana 811 immediately to request an update on your ticket.
- Extension: If the digging will not be completed before the ticket expires, request an Extension at least 2 working days prior to the ticket expiration. Member utilities will have two full working days to respond to the Extension request.
- Remark: If the markings are no longer visible and the digging is not completed, stop digging and request a Remark. Member utilities will have two full working days to respond to the Remark request.
- Interested in entering your locate requests online? Some key benefits are:
- Created in under 2 minutes
- Include attachments (pictures, plans, etc.) when creating a ticket
- Access to satellite/aerial view maps when selecting the dig site
- Create, update, or check positive response 24×7
Calling our PRO Excavators!
We welcome you to become more involved in our grass roots damage prevention community by joining us at your local Damage Prevention Council meeting. We have three councils throughout the state. View meeting dates and times near you on our designated DPC page.