Natural gas pipelines provide a safe way to move natural gas from one location to another. In the United States, a vast network of pipelines delivers the many benefits of natural gas to millions of consumers nationwide. Natural gas is a valuable resource for our country’s energy demands. Kansas Gas Service is the largest natural gas distribution company in Kansas, providing safe, affordable and reliable natural gas to our 648,000 customers across the state.

Something as simple as repairing a fence, planting a tree and even installing a mailbox can potentially damage a pipeline. If you are planning to dig, bore or perform any excavation activities, know what steps to take to prevent damaging underground utilities. Before you dig, state law requires excavators – including homeowners and DIYers – to contact 811 at least 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, before the planned excavation start date to have underground pipelines, cables and other utilities marked for free. Damage from excavation-related activities, particularly from equipment digging or boring into pipelines, is the number one cause of pipeline accidents. To prevent damage to the pipeline, you are required by law to use hand or soft digging techniques when excavating within the tolerance zone. The tolerance zone is the area within 2 feet from the outside edge of the pipe in all horizontal directions. For more information or to submit a ticket, call 811 or visit kansas811.com.

If you cause any type of damage to a pipeline, notify Kansas Gas Service immediately at 888-482-4950. Kansas Gas Service will inspect and repair the pipeline to maintain its integrity. Even seemingly minor contact, such as a scrape, dent, gouge, crease, or cut tracer wire, may lead to a future leak or incident if not repaired. If you are digging and smell natural gas, or if the damage results in the escape of natural gas, leave the area immediately and then call 911, Kansas Gas Service at 888-482-4950, and 811. Do not attempt to repair the damage and do not attempt to cover the damage with dirt or other debris. Avoid using any electrical equipment near the damage.

Pipeline markers are used as warning signs to indicate the presence of a pipeline. However, these markers do not show the exact location or depth of a pipeline and are not present in all areas. Additionally, the pipeline path may vary between markers. Pipeline markers are helpful providing the general location of pipelines, but pipeline operators rely on special equipment and service records to determine the exact location and depth of pipelines installed underground. Since these signs don't indicate their exact location, you are required to contact 811 to have the lines marked before any excavation activity.

Because most pipelines are buried underground, line markers, like the ones shown here, are used to indicate the presence of a pipeline. These pipeline markers can be found along a street, highway, railway or pipeline right-of-way and where a pipeline intersects with a street, highway or railway system. Pipeline markers display the material transported in the line, the name of the pipeline operator and a telephone number where the operator can be reached in the event of an emergency. You can also find where transmission pipelines are in your area by visiting the National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS) website at www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov. However, this is NOT a substitute for calling 811!