Every year in the United States, underground utilities are damaged thousands of times because crews dig before proper locating is done.
According to the Common Ground Alliance 2022 DIRT Report, there were 163,726 reported utility damages nationwide, which was an increase from the previous year.
In Arizona, the risk is even greater because of the rapid pace of construction and aging infrastructure buried beneath both residential and commercial properties.
If you are a property owner, contractor, or developer, knowing how underground utility locating and construction works with Eagle Rock Excavating, is essential before breaking ground.
The process not only prevents costly repairs but also protects public safety.
From gas lines and water pipes to fiber optic cables, every underground utility must be identified before excavation begins.
Why Accurate Utility Locates Matter Before Any Excavation
Digging without verified utility locates can result in serious risks.
Utility strikes not only cause property damage but also create safety hazards and legal liabilities.
A single cut fiber optic line can disrupt communication for hundreds of homes and businesses.
A damaged gas line can force emergency evacuations and cause injuries.
Typical Risks When Utilities Are Not Located
- Service disruptions – Water, electricity, or internet outages can affect entire neighborhoods.
- Safety hazards – Gas leaks, electrical shocks, or flooding may occur when underground utilities are struck.
- Financial liability – Repair costs and potential fines can fall on the contractor or property owner if proper steps weren’t followed.
- Project delays – Excavation halts until the damage is repaired and new inspections are completed.
Accurate locating helps prevent dangerous and costly utility strikes, and in Arizona, it’s the law to call 811 before digging.
Homeowners, contractors, and developers must make the call at least two working days before excavation so underground utilities can be marked.
Skipping this step isn’t just risky, but can lead to fines and full responsibility for any damages caused.
How The Utility Locating Process Works
The process involves several steps, starting with a public request to Arizona 811 and extending to private underground utility locating services when needed.
Contractors and property owners are responsible for requesting these locations before excavation begins.
Electromagnetic Locating (EM): When It’s Used
An underground utility locator often uses electromagnetic equipment.
This method detects metallic lines such as power cables, copper water pipes, or steel gas pipes.
The locator sends a signal through the line, which can be traced above ground.
While effective for metallic lines, EM cannot detect plastic or concrete utilities unless tracer wires were installed.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR): Strengths and Limits
Ground penetrating radar is another method widely used in underground utility locating services.
GPR works by sending radio waves into the ground and capturing reflections to map buried
objects.
It is especially useful for detecting non-metallic utilities such as PVC pipes or concrete structures.
However, GPR has limits in areas with rocky soil or high moisture content, where signals may not penetrate deeply.
Vacuum Potholing / Exposure: The Last-Mile Confirmation
Even with advanced tools, the only way to confirm the exact depth and position of underground utilities is through vacuum potholing.
This involves using pressurized air or water to safely expose the utility without damaging it.
Once verified, the location is marked and recorded for excavation planning.
What To Provide Your Excavation Contractor (Checklist)
Before excavation can begin, you must provide your underground utility contractor with complete and verified locating information.
Following this process keeps the project safe, compliant, and on schedule.
Here’s a simple checklist:
- Call 811 to request public locates.
- Hire private underground utility locating services if needed for private lines not covered by 811.
- Collect locate tickets and maps and provide them to your excavation contractor.
- Confirm permits with the city or municipality.
- Walk the site with your contractor to review utility marks before digging.
How Eagle Rock Prepares For Underground Installation
Our team at Eagle Rock Excavating takes safety and compliance seriously when it comes to underground utilities construction.
Our role begins after utility locating is complete and verified tickets are provided.
Permitting & Site Inspection (What Eagle Rock Handles)
Our team handles site permitting, project review, and inspections before excavation begins.
This includes confirming that locate tickets are available, reviewing utility maps, and checking for conflicts with planned installations.
Scheduling Excavation After Verified Locates
We perform site permitting, site inspection, excavation, and underground utility installation.
However, we do not perform public 811 locates.
Before we begin excavation, we require verified locate tickets from 811 or a private underground utility locator.
If you need help interpreting locate maps or submitting tickets to 811, our project coordinators can guide you through the next steps.
Once everything is verified, we schedule excavation, trenching, and underground utilities construction.
Our services cover installation of sewer, water, gas, storm drains, and electrical conduits.
After installation, we handle backfill, compaction, and site restoration.
FAQ
Who Calls 811 Before Digging?
In Arizona, the responsibility to call 811 falls on anyone planning excavation.
This includes property owners, general contractors, developers, or even homeowners working on private projects.
The 811 service connects you with utility companies, who then send locators to mark the position of underground utilities on your property.
This step is required before excavation starts because it protects public infrastructure and reduces the risk of accidents.
Even small projects, like installing fences or landscaping, can pose risks if underground utilities are not marked first.
What Is Ground Penetrating Radar Used For?
Ground penetrating radar, often called GPR, is used to identify underground utilities and structures that may not be detectable with traditional electromagnetic locating tools.
It is especially effective for non-metallic utilities such as PVC water lines, plastic sewer pipes, or concrete storm drains.
GPR creates a subsurface image by sending radio waves into the ground and recording reflections.
While it has limits in rocky or wet soil, it provides valuable detail where other methods cannot.
Many private underground utility locating services use GPR when a complete picture of the site is needed before excavation.
Does Eagle Rock Excavating Provide Utility Locating?
Our team does not perform public 811 utility locating services.
Our work begins after you provide verified locate tickets from Arizona 811 or a licensed private underground utility locator.
Once these tickets are available, we handle excavation, trenching, and underground utilities construction such as sewer, water, gas, storm drains, and electrical conduit installation.
If you need help reviewing locate maps or understanding how they apply to your project, our project coordinators can advise you on the next steps.
This keeps your project safe and compliant while making sure we can proceed without delay.
How Long Does It Take For Locates To Be Completed?
In most cases, Arizona 811 requires two to three business days to respond to a locate request.
Utility companies are then dispatched to mark their lines on the property using paint or flags.
Private underground utility locating services may be scheduled more quickly, depending on availability.
Because excavation cannot begin until locates are verified, it is always best to request them early in your project planning.
This prevents unnecessary delays and allows Eagle Rock Excavating to schedule excavation and underground utility installation once the site is confirmed safe.
Why Is Vacuum Potholing Recommended?
Vacuum potholing is often considered the final step in confirming underground utility locations.
While electronic locating and ground penetrating radar can identify the approximate position of utilities, potholing exposes them directly with pressurized air or water with a vacuum system.
This technique avoids damage to the utility while confirming its exact depth and alignment.
Contractors often use potholing in high-risk areas or near critical infrastructure, where precision is necessary before trenching begins.
In combining digital locating with physical confirmation, excavation can proceed with a much higher degree of safety.
Get A Free Estimate / Submit Your Locate Ticket
Accurate utility locating protects your project and keeps excavation safe.
Once you have verified tickets, we are ready to handle excavation, underground utility installation, and full site preparation.
Contact us today to request an estimate and submit your locate information.
With Eagle Rock Excavating, you’ll have a reliable partner for safe and efficient underground utilities construction in Arizona.
