Rising Buried Utility Damages Demand Industry Wide Reform

Introduction

Despite ongoing efforts to enhance safety and compliance, recent data reveals a concerning trend: damages to buried utilities are on the rise. The 2024 Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report by the Common Ground Alliance (CGA) indicates that the CGA Index increased from 94.0 in 2023 to 96.7 in 2024, signaling a regression in reducing such incidents.

Key Findings from the 2024 DIRT Report

• Volume of Damages: The report analyzed 196,977 unique damage reports from 2024, highlighting a persistent issue in the industry.
• Dominant Root Causes: The top 10 root causes accounted for 85% of all reported damages, with the leading causes being:
  • Failure to notify 811 (24.54%)
  • Excavator failed to maintain clearance after verifying marks (16.07%)
  • Facility not marked due to locator error (11.94%)
  • Marked inaccurately due to locator error (8.58%)
  • Improper excavation practice not listed elsewhere (6.75%)
  • Excavator dug prior to verifying marks by potholing (4.94%)
  • Facility not marked due to no response from operator/contract locator (4.71%)
  • Excavator failed to shore excavation/support facilities (3.27%)
  • Marks faded, lost, or not maintained (2.17%)
  • Facility not marked due to incorrect facility record/map (2.16%)

These statistics underscore the need for targeted interventions and improvements in specific areas. 

Challenges in Locate Timeliness

An analysis of data from eight 811 centers revealed that excavators faced an average 38% chance of being unable to start work on time due to incomplete locate responses. States with active enforcement programs for facility operators to properly locate and provide positive responses achieved significantly higher on-time rates than those without, suggesting the challenge is solvable with the right policies. 

Recommendations for Industry Reform

To address these challenges and reduce damages, the CGA DIRT Report recommends:

• Enhanced Enforcement: Implementing stronger penalties for noncompliance with 811 notification requirements and locate timeliness.
• Sector-Specific Training: Targeting high-risk sectors, particularly water/sewer and telecommunications, with contractor training and investments in mapping improvements.
• Balanced Accountability: Holding all stakeholders accountable, not just excavators, through balanced enforcement.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Accelerating data-driven decision-making by improving DIRT reporting quality and participation. 

Conclusion

The rising trend in buried utility damages highlights the urgent need for comprehensive industry-wide reforms. By adopting data-driven strategies, enhancing enforcement, and fostering collaboration among all stakeholders, the industry can work towards achieving the CGA's "50-in-5" goal of reducing damages by 50% over five years. The stakes for public safety, service reliability, and economic productivity are simply too high to accept the status quo.