Have you seen the advertisements for the “Call Before You Dig” program? This program, which is funded largely by the utility companies, urges property owners to call for underground scanning services prior to any type of project that involves digging on a previously developed property. Under the surface of the ground, there could be any number of utility lines, and hitting them during digging or excavating could cause expensive damage, injury, or even death. The Call Before You Dig program will send someone out to scan the ground to locate buried utility lines, so they can then be avoided. This is a free service that any property owner can access simply by calling 8-1-1.
The Call Before You Dig program is a valuable service that everyone should take advantage of, but in some cases, property owners should consider calling in a private service as well. The free service is only required to locate public utility lines, but many properties also contain private utility lines or other buried hazards that need to be located prior to disturbing the ground. Private utility locators will charge a fee for their service, but paying this fee can be well worth it if it means avoiding a buried hazard.
If you suspect your property may have things like a septic system, water pipes that go to a well, gas lines that go to a propane tank, or even irrigation lines, it is best to have a private scanning company come out. A company like this will likely use ground penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the ground for any and all buried items. GPR can detect metallic and nonmetallic items using non-destructive electromagnetic waves.
Various companies provide GPR scanning services in San Diego, including companies like Enhanced Scanning, which services all of Southern California, and even goes beyond So Cal for specialty projects.
When a GPR scanning services show up to your property in San Diego, they will use a device about the size of a lawnmower to go over the area where you plan to dig. If anything is detected by the GPR scanner, the technician will mark the ground using either flags or spray paint, or provide you with a KMZ file that maps out the locations of any hazards they find. If GPR alone isn’t able to provide conclusive results, a good scanning company will have other tools at their disposal to provide you with the most accurate information possible.
If you want to avoid expensive damage or injury when digging or excavating on your property, a company that provides GPR scanning services in San Diego can help! Even if they don’t locate anything, using this type of service will give you peace of mind that your project can be completed safely.
