Question: What happens if you mark something out and it turns out not to be there?
Answer:
Everything we locate needs to be dug down and proven. If you have chosen to dig down yourself (ie you’re not using us to do it for you) and you cannot find it, call us and let us know. It’s likely you just have not dug deep enough. Let us know how deep and wide you have dug. We will discuss the details over the phone with you. If we are happy with the efforts you have made, then we will come back out to site and try and relocate the service again.
Keep in mind, the majority of times we find customers just haven’t dig deep enough, so make sure you have well and truly passed the depth guide we gave you and you have looked to the left and the right of the mark we put down for you.
Start by checking the excavation
The depth information from a locate is a guide, not a guarantee of exact depth. Carefully extend the excavation deeper and slightly to either side of the mark using appropriate non-destructive digging methods. Do not use mechanical excavation within the tolerance zone.
When to call us back
If you still cannot expose the service, contact us and tell us how deep and wide you have excavated. We will review the locate information with you. If the excavation appears adequate, we can arrange to return and reassess the service location.
Why physical proof is important
A marked line identifies the detected position at the time of the locate. The service should be physically exposed and proven before construction or excavation continues. Never assume the service is absent simply because it was not found at the first depth checked.