Safe Gardening

Summer is finally here! As temperatures continue to rise in the Bay Area, it is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and begin summer gardening projects. It is important to know, however, that you may be close to underground utility lines connecting to your home, and there are safety precautions to prevent a leak. If you are interested to learn more about Northern California’s gas systems, you can do so here. 

Before you start any digging projects this summer, be sure to follow these tips to prevent and respond to potential natural gas leaks. 

1. Get marked! By visiting this website or calling 811 at least three days before you begin your project, California 811 will provide a free marking service. This applies to small and large projects equally – it is the most important step in preventing natural gas leaks! Following the guidance of 811, you will then identify your digging area with white paint, chalk, flags, or other markers.
2. Leave the marks in place! Utility companies, like PG&E, will use colored utility flags and other markers to indicate underground lines following a standard code. These flags are valid for 28 days and it is important to leave them until all digging projects are finished. 
3. Dig safely! If you are digging within 24 inches of any marked lines, use handheld digging tools and make sure to watch for gas leak warning signs. If you are using electric digging tools, be sure to stay outside of 24 inches of any markers. 
4. Identify gas leak warning signs! When digging, it is important to know the warning signs of a possible natural gas leak. If you start to smell a rotten egg odor, hear whistling or hissing sounds, or see dirt spraying in the air, bubbling in a pond/creek, or dead vegetation in a usually moist area, these might be signs of a natural gas leak. 
5. Respond to a gas leak! If you identify any of these warning signs, leave the area immediately and evacuate upwind, then call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. 

Happy gardening and stay safe!