If you’re a general contractor, you almost certainly know about the “Call Before You Dig” service that’s available for utility locating in Ontario, CA. If you have a project that involves any sort of digging or excavating, you can contact the Underground Service Alert office and someone will be sent out—for free—to scan the area in question for any buried utility lines.
If you’ve used this service, you likely know that the free part of this service is nice, but the rest of it can be a bit of an inconvenience.
To request service in Southern California cities like Ontario, you can either call 8-1-1 or make a service request online at digalert.org. Someone should be sent out within two days to evaluate the area for buried utilities. But in reality, it can sometimes take more than two days. There is also no motivation for the technician to work around your schedule and come out at a time that’s convenient for you.
When a technician comes out to the property you’re working on, they will scan the area in question, marking where any power lines, telecommunications lines, gas lines, or water or sewer pipes are located below the surface. Unfortunately, this service is limited only to utility lines that are publicly owned and maintained. This means that any lines past the utility meters are not covered by the service. They also won’t locate any non-pressurized storm drains. Anything outside of these parameters are your responsibility to locate.
Because of these limitations and inconveniences, many contractors have turned to private utility locating services in Ontario. These services are provided by privately owned companies that specialize in utility locating. They often have more advanced equipment than the free service, and they aren’t limited only to certain areas, or only to finding public utility lines. Instead, they can evaluate any portion of your client’s property that needs evaluating, and can locate other buried hazards as well (septic tanks, propane gas lines, private water systems, etc.). They can locate things buried underground, as well as items embedded in concrete.
Most private locating companies will utilize ground penetrating radar (GPR), which is the leading technology for utility locating. It is safe and effective, and the results can be interpreted and delivered onsite by a skilled technician.
In addition, when you work with a private utility locating service in Ontario, you can schedule a technician to come out at a time that is convenient for you.
Because of all of these benefits, some contractors choose to forgo the free utility locating service altogether and instead, go with a private locating service. It’s often a small price to pay for the additional benefits and superior service that these companies can provide.
