What happens if excavation hits an unmarked pipe?

Even with a proper Dial Before You Dig check completed, occasionally a service is unmarked or inaccurately located — if this happens, work stops immediately at that location while the situation is assessed and, if needed, the relevant authority is contacted.

Depending on what’s struck, this can mean anything from a minor, quickly-resolved issue to a more significant repair requiring the relevant utility’s involvement — genuinely handled by an experienced contractor following proper safety and reporting procedures.

This is exactly why Dial Before You Dig, while not a guarantee against every possible scenario, remains an essential step — it dramatically reduces this risk, even though it can’t eliminate it entirely for genuinely unmarked or inaccurately recorded services.

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