August 03, 2026 August 11 is National 811 Day, a yearly reminder that calling or submitting an online request to 811 before breaking ground is the most critical step in any home project. Nationwide, an underground utility line is damaged every six minutes due to uninformed digging. Whether you’re installing a fence, planting a tree, anchoring deck supports, or building an addition, contacting 811 is a free service that protects you, your neighbors, and essential community infrastructure from dangerous line strikes, service outages, and costly repair fines.In Virginia, state law requires utilities—including Loudoun Water—to mark public underground utility lines within 48 hours (beginning the next business day) of your 811 notification. Keep in mind that public locators only mark utility lines up to the meter or property boundary; private lines (such as irrigation systems, invisible fences, or the water line from the meter to your house) remain the homeowner's responsibility to locate. For questions regarding water infrastructure before you dig, contact Loudoun Water’s Utility Protection Manager at 571-919-1657 or dial 811 before starting your project. Questions About Your Digging Project?If you have specific questions about water or wastewater line locations in the Loudoun Water service area before starting excavation work, contact Loudoun Water's Utility Protection Manager at 571-919-1657 or review customer guidelines directly on our Call Before You Dig page.