Summit Utilities Oklahoma Reminds Customers August 11th (8/11) Serves as a Reminder to Call 811 Before You Dig

Lawton, Oklahoma (August 11, 2025) – Summit Utilities Oklahoma (Summit) reminds customers that August 11th is a great time to stress the importance of calling 811 before any digging project. 811 is a free nationwide service that helps you dig safely before starting any project. Calling 811 three working days in Oklahoma before a digging project allows local utilities to mark underground utility lines. An underground utility line can easily be damaged because someone decided to dig without first contacting 811. 

“No matter the size of the project, whether you're planting a tree or installing a fence, it's critical to contact 811 before you dig,” said Todd Jacobs, Chief Operating Officer at Summit. “Protecting underground infrastructure starts with a simple call, and at Summit, safety always comes first for our customers, their families, and the communities we serve.”

When you contact 811, your local utility companies will mark the approximate location of any buried lines in your yard so that you don’t risk injuring yourself or disrupting utility service to the neighborhood. If you plan to dig near a marked utility line, you must hand dig and not use mechanized equipment near a marked line to prevent damaging an underground utility line. Striking a single line can cause repair costs, inconvenient outages and fines, severe injuries, and even death. Every digging project requires contacting 811 by phone or online. Installing a mailbox, building a deck, planting a tree, and laying a patio are some examples of digging projects that require a free 811 request at least a few days before breaking ground. 

The depth of utility lines can vary for several reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects, and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be properly marked because even when digging only a few inches or in a location marked previously, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. Visit www.811beforeyoudig.com and summitutilities.com/safety/call-before-you-dig for more information about 811 and safe digging practices.

Summit Giveaway

During this month, Summit is launching a giveaway to promote safe digging practices across our service areas. One winner will be randomly selected to receive a $100 Visa gift card. Anyone 18 years or older who is an Arkansas resident is eligible to enter. To participate, individuals simply need to comment on our Facebook “August 811 Giveaway” post with a photo of their summer digging project. The contest runs from August 11, 2025 to August 25, 2025, with a winner contacted via Facebook direct message on August 26, 2025. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook or 811. Terms and conditions apply.