Most of us have seen little flags and spray paint lines in yards or construction sites around town.
These are a sign that a business or homeowner has called Nebraska 811 (Diggers Hotline). This is a free service for anyone who is planning a digging project. Nebraska state law requires anyone who digs to place a locate request before doing so to prevent the possibility of hitting underground utilities including electric, water, natural gas, and telecommunications lines.
Loup employees complete locates for any underground lines in our service area following a request to Nebraska 811.
If you come home from work or walk outside and notice these flags in your yard, but did not call Nebraska 811, please do not remove them. They are a sign that there is a planned excavation in the vicinity of your property.
This excavation doesn’t always mean a big project is coming that will affect your property — you may just be in the radius of a proposed project.
It might be the neighbors who are installing a new mailbox, deck, or clothesline. Sometimes city utilities or engineering firms need locates to plan upcoming projects and upgrades.
It’s crucial to preserve and maintain the location of flags. Obscured or displaced markings may lead to accidental damage. You shouldn’t mow over, or remove the flags, especially if you value your water, sewer, gas, internet, phone, and other services.
If you or one of your contractors called in the locate request and have finished work, you can remove the flags. Often, a neighbor or business will remove flags for their projects once complete.
If you need or want to remove the flags, please ask NE811 by filling out their contact form or call your local utility company. Loup’s flags are marked “LPPD.”
You can reference the chart on this page to determine what the flags represent.
Please note that privately owned lines such as underground sprinklers and lines to detached shops and garages are not marked by utilities. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to know the locations of these lines.
For more information, visit Nebraska 811.