Builders are legally bound to call 811 before starting any construction project, but property owners are responsible for locating utilities on privately owned land. A daylighting contractor is tasked with exposing underground pipes, conduit, cable, sewer lines, and utilities using either a potholing excavation method or hydro excavation to carefully uncover but not harm them. Once the area has been vacuum excavated for safety the construction workers can move forward. Patriot Utility Services provides daylighting and underground utility exposure services at construction, residential, and commercial build sites across Texas.
Private Utility Location Services
Our private utility location services include the following:
- Reviewing original build site plans and permits
- Reviewing any utility, water, or sewer line maintenance records
- Exposing underground cables, conduit, and pipes to ensure their location
- Mapping out underground utility and sewer lines
- Reporting location, elevation, and status of installed lines
- Physically reviewing the installed utilities with the project manager to ensure location knowledge
- Encouraging construction crew to hold evacuation drills
Public Utility Location Services Explained
Unlike private utility location, public utility location requests are managed by the US Infrastructure Corporation, better known as USIC. This government funded organization accepts location and flagging requests for publicly owned utilities underground on their website or by calling 811. If the lines are privately owned by a cable, Internet, or other company they will need to hire a private utility location company. Unlike government run locating services, privately owned utilities dispatch their team quickly to avoid delays during construction projects on a tight deadline. This helps reduce overall costs and keep the project on track for completion on time.
The Private Utility Location Process
When you call a private utility locating service they will ask to see the original building permits and any other documentation you can provide. Once they see the original utility line locations and any changes from maintenance records they can review your building plans to ensure they map out lines at all important junctions for safety.
Our experienced private utility locators will then tour the facility with you, pointing out exposed utilities and documenting them with 3D drawing schematics. They will also encourage you to practice evacuation drills should a utility line rupture or sustain damage accidentally.
Contact Us
Contact Patriot Utility Services for private utility excavation service across Texas. Proudly serving Houston, Katy, Fulshear, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Corpus Christi, Texas for more than a decade.
