Spring is a time when many people start thinking about gardening, and improvements and changes to their yards, which is why April is “Safe Digging Month” in B.C.
There is a lot of critical infrastructure just beneath the surface on most properties, from gas and power lines to water and sewer systems, and one ill-judged blow from a shovel can cause inconvenience at best, and serious threats to life and property at worst.
That’s why people, from homeowners to contractors, are encouraged to know before they dig, by getting in touch with BC 1 Call. The free service is just a click or a phone call away, and connects people with the owners of underground infrastructure, so that they know what’s where on their property.
“Unfortunately, when we dig before contacting BC 1 Call, we risk cutting off critical services not just to our own home or business but to all those around us,” says BC 1 Call president Donna Grant. “Do you want to be the one responsible for cutting off power to your neighbourhood during a big game, or air conditioning during a heat dome? It happens far more than it should, plus our service is free. There are no good excuses."
On April 3, representatives from BC 1 Call, BC Common Ground Alliance, FortisBC, BC Municipal Safety Association, Public Works Association of BC, WorkSafeBC, BC Construction Association, BC Road Builders and Heavy Construction Association, and other stakeholders met with MLAs from both parties to emphasize the need for safe digging regulations and legislation, along with broader awareness.
The good news is that many British Columbians do indeed call before they dig. The bad news is that some don’t, which can lead to problems. In 2024 FortisBC saw 779 instances of damage to underground gas lines, but even that number has a silver lining, as it was the lowest level of gas line damage in 20 years. A FortisBC release on April 15 noted that a record of nearly 170,000 BC 1 Call tickets were processed in 2024, with the surge in usage demonstrating heightened awareness of the importance of checking for buried utilities before disturbing the ground.
“The strong correlation between increased BC 1 Call usage and the decline in gas line damages is clear,” said Ada Nadison, program manager, public safety at FortisBC. “While this progress is encouraging, we know there’s still work to be done, particularly in Metro Vancouver. We continue to prioritize safety and raise awareness about the importance of calling or clicking before digging.”
People often make the mistake of assuming that utility lines are always buried several feet underground, when in fact some lines are buried less than 12 inches from the surface. They might once have been buried much deeper, but many underground lines have been there for decades, and over time the soil above them might have been removed, by erosion, flooding, or previous landscaping/construction projects.
FortisBC cautions that you don’t have to be doing major work in order to damage an underground line; even basic gardening activities, such as planting trees or digging a garden bed, can lead to trouble if you don’t know what’s under the ground and where it is. Other common home improvement projects that may cause damage to underground infrastructure include installing posts for fences, mailboxes, realtor signs, welcome signs, etc.; building decks, retaining walls, and patios and installing fire pits; anchoring playground equipment; and installing underground water systems.
Once a homeowner, business, or construction project requests a free locate at www.bc1c.ca or calls 1-800-474-6886, BC 1 Call uses its mapping system to identify the relevant owners of underground infrastructure who are also BC 1 Call members. Each member is notified so they can provide critical information to those about to disturb the ground.
