The Damage Prevention Coordinator with ATCO Gas says, there's room for improvement in the number of gas lines struck on rural properties.

Mike Woloski says, last year they had 623 damages to their mainlines and services in Alberta, and about 25 per cent of those damages were on rural properties.      

"Each year, mainly in the rural properties, they sometimes decide to take it upon themselves to try to repair gas lines after they've damaged them." Woloski says. "The danger that those individuals face is that natural gas lines can potentially ignite when they're damaged."

Woloski says, repairs to gas lines should only be handled by ATCO staff, and he reminds people of the proper protocol to follow before you get digging this spring.

"We want to remind everyone of the steps of visit clickbeforeyoudig.com to get all of your underground utilities marked, plan your work area. Gas lines can be shallower than they think. As soil moves, changes, erodes, wind erosion is a big problem we have in the South, a line could only be a few inches below the surface."

April was National Safe Dig Month. For more information, you can visit the ATCO Gas Website.     

 

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