Article in "American City & County" reports "Each year, repairing underground utility lines damaged by unsafe digging practices and waste from inefficiencies costs taxpayers around $61 billion."
Engineering News-Record article highlighting just-released Infrastructure Protection Coalition reports on the 811 system problems.
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811 Emergency: $61 Billion Lost in System to Protect Underground Utilities
Study reveals states at greatest public risk due to lax policies, enforcement
WASHINGTON _ Failures in the nation’s 811 system used to prevent damage to underground utility lines are costing $61 billion a year in waste and excess costs and creating unnecessary hazards for public safety, particularly in states where the implementation and accountability are most lax, according to a comprehensive independent review released Wednesday.
The new study, “811 Emergency,” includes an in-depth examination of 811 operations in every state and Washington D.C. and shows these costs and the increased risk to public safety could be substantially reduced if states with the worst records adopt more effective practices and procedures already in use in other parts of the country.
