April is National Safe Digging Month. Common Ground Alliance is the national association dedicated to protecting underground utility lines and the people who dig near them. According to their national survey (Feb. 2021), one-third of US homeowners reported experiencing a utility service interruption in 2020. Additionally, 37% of homeowners who plan to dig this year for projects like landscaping, installing a fence or mailbox, or building a deck, pond or patio, will put themselves and their communities at risk by not calling 811 to locate underground utilities. The survey also revealed 20% of homeowners have been more likely to do a do it yourself– or DIY– improvement project involving digging since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The most popular projects cited by surveyed homeowners who plan to dig include: