EAST SYRACUSE — April is National Safe Digging Month and UDig NY has important information for anyone planning a digging project in Upstate New York.

Digging without knowing the approximate location of underground utility lines can result in injury, repair costs, fines, and outages. That’s why professional excavators and homeowners with digging projects should place an underground utility location request with UDig NY. A location request can be placed by visiting UDigNY.org or by calling 811. Requests should be placed at least two business days, but not more than 10 days, before beginning an excavation project.

After a location request is placed, UDig NY processes and transmits the information to the member facility operators who are responsible for marking out the approximate location of any underground public utilities in the dig area, helping excavators to dig safely. In addition to placing a location request, anyone planning a digging project should familiarize themselves with important safe-digging concepts like the APWA Uniform Color Code — the colors that are used to mark out the type and approximate location of underground utility lines.

For more information, visit the website UDigNY.org.