North Center Revitalization Assoc. (NCRA)

Why Are There Color Paint Marks on the Sidewalk?

Why Are There Color Paint Marks on the Sidewalk?

For release: April 20, 2006
Contact: Stacy Damp
Utilities Public Information Officer
480.644.4844 Tel
480.518.6754 Cell

or

Jennifer Codd
Marketing/Communications Specialist I
480.644.4795 Tel

Before you dig in, call Arizona Blue Stake

The rainbow of colors painted on the sidewalk or in the yard next door is
not just for decoration. These markings identify the actual location of
underground utilities. Whether planting a tree, installing a sprinkler
system or laying underground pipe for a construction project, calling
Arizona Blue Stake Center before you dig can prevent possible injury,
costly damage and/or utility service interruption.

The markings include seven standard colors, each identifying a different
type of utility line. For example, yellow signifies natural gas, petroleum,
nitrogen, butane and propane; blue denotes water, irrigation, and wells;
and red identifies electric, traffic signals and streetlights. The marks
are temporary and will fade over time.

No matter the size of the project, Arizona law requires contractors and
homeowners to call Arizona Blue Stake before digging, grading or
excavating. This service is provided at not charge to the customer. At
least two days prior to beginning the project (excluding Saturdays, Sundays
and legal holidays), call the Arizona Blue Stake Center at (602) 263-1100
inside Maricopa County, or 1-800-STAKE-IT (782-5348) if you are calling
from outside Maricopa County.

Utility owners, such as the City of Mesa, Qwest, Cox Cable, Southwest Gas
and SRP, established Arizona Blue Stake as a one-call notification system
to assist homeowners and excavators in identifying the location of
underground utilities. By participating in the program and getting
underground utility lines located, residents and contractors can comply
with state law, avoid injuries, prevent costly damage and interruption of
utility services, save time and money, avoid hazards and eliminate
construction delays. For more information about Arizona Blue Stake, visit
the City's Web site at www.cityofmesa.org/utilities/gas/azbluestake.asp.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Sadie.Hines@cityofmesa.org [mailto:Sadie.Hines@cityofmesa.org] On Behalf Of Neighbor.Info@cityofmesa.org
Sent: Tuesday, June 06, 2006 12:25 PM
To: Sadie.Hines@cityofmesa.org
Cc: $NEIGHSVS-Neighborhood.Outreach@cityofmesa.org
Subject: Safety Message



Why Are There Color Paint Marks on the Sidewalk?

These colored paint marks are used by contractors and homeowners to identify underground utility lines such as gas, phone, cable, or water. These paint marks correspond to a standard color code that is assigned to each type of utility. For example, a yellow mark represents an underground gas line, orange represents telecommunication lines, red represents electric. These marks are temporary and will fade with time.
Whether you are a homeowner or excavator, before you dig, grade, or excavate the law requires you to call the Arizona Blue Stake Center statewide at 1 800-STAKE-IT or in Maricopa County at (602) 263-1100 to have all underground utilities to be located. Utility owners will come to your site to mark what they own and maintain. Typically this means they will only mark to their meter. Anything beyond the meter is customer owned and maintained, and may not be marked by the utility company.

This is a free service and will avoid injuries, prevent costly damages and interruptions of facility services, save time and money, avoid hazards, and eliminate construction delays.

For more information on the Arizona Blue Stake Center and the Standard Utility Marking Color Codes, please visit the Arizona Blue Stake Center website at http://www.azbluestake.com