What might be buried on my land?
Rural property can hide electric lines to barns and wells, gas or propane lines, water lines, septic tanks and drainfields, telephone and fiber cables, drainage tile, irrigation pipes and old abandoned lines. Some are shallow, and some are much deeper than you expect.
Previous owners may have added lines without records. Never assume that nothing is there just because you cannot see it.
Old farmsteads often have lines nobody remembers, such as wires to a long gone barn or pipes to a former spring house. If your land has a history of earlier buildings, tell any locator about them.
- Electric, gas and propane lines
- Water lines and wells
- Septic tank and drainfield
- Telephone, fiber and cable
- Drain tile and irrigation
Why does it matter so much?
Hitting an electric line can cause serious injury or death. Hitting a gas line can cause a fire or explosion. Cutting a water line can flood a yard and contaminate a supply. Damaging fiber or phone cable can cut off a neighbor's service, and you may be held responsible for the repair.
Even shallow digging such as fence posts, tree planting, a garden bed or grading can reach buried lines, so the rule applies to small jobs too.
How do marking services work?
Many states have a one-call center that notifies utility owners so they can mark the location of their underground lines for free. Search for your state's call before you dig service, or ask your county or a utility provider how to reach it. Rules about how far ahead to call, how long markings last and what the colors mean are set locally, so get that information from the official source.
Wait for every utility to respond before you dig, and keep the markings visible. If markings fade or get disturbed, ask for them again.
Plan for the waiting time. Marking takes time, so schedule digging around it, not the other way around, and avoid leaving open holes or equipment unattended.
What do marking services not cover?
In many areas the public marking service covers only utility owned lines. Lines on your side of the meter, to a barn, a well, a pump house, a yard light or a livestock waterer, often belong to you and may not be marked. Septic tanks, drainfields and drain tile also may not be marked.
A private locating company can trace such lines with special equipment. Your county health office may have records of septic system location, and an electrician or a well contractor may know where your private lines run.
How should I dig safely near marks?
Markings show an approximate zone, not an exact spot. Local rules often say to hand dig carefully within a certain distance of a mark. Ask the one-call center or your utility what applies where you live. Use hand tools to expose a line rather than a machine when you are close.
If you hit or damage a line, stop, keep everyone away and call emergency services for gas, an electrical hazard or any danger. Then notify the utility owner. Do not try to fix a damaged utility yourself.
Teach everyone who helps on the farm, including family members and hired help, to ask before digging. One careless post hole can undo years of careful work.
How do I keep my own records?
Draw a simple map of all lines on your property with measurements from fixed points such as a corner of the house. Take photos of open trenches before filling them in. Add every new line, well, tank or drain to your map.
Store the map with your house papers and give a copy to any contractor who digs. Pass it on to the next owner when you sell.
If you rent land or have a lease, ask the owner for maps and rules about digging. Agreements and utility easements may limit what you can do.
When should I get help instead of digging?
Hire a professional for anything deep, near a gas or electric line, or involving a septic system, pond or large trench. They carry the right equipment and insurance, and they know the local rules.
If you are unsure what is below you, stopping to ask costs a phone call. Guessing can cost a life.
Your county emergency office and extension service can point you to qualified local contractors and to training on safe digging.
Key takeaways
- Assume something is buried, even on small jobs
- Use your state's marking service before digging
- Private lines and septic parts often are not marked
- Keep a map and photos of your own lines
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.