Public and Private Utilities

Facility operators may not locate or mark private underground facilities.

Not all underground facilities buried in your yard are maintained by utility operators, which means some lines may not be marked after you contact Tennessee 811.

Here are some examples of underground facilities that, as the property owner, you are responsible for having located:

• Water or sewer lines from the main line to your home.
• Propane lines from your tank to your home or between your home and other structures on your property, such as a garage.
• Electric and gas lines are typically marked only up to the meter but may extend to other buildings, yard lights, or additional areas on your property.
• Irrigation lines.

If you have private underground facilities on your property, it is your responsibility to have them located. Underground facility operators did not install these lines and, therefore, cannot locate them for you.

To help ensure these private lines are properly identified, we provide a list of private utility locating services operating in Tennessee. While we do not endorse or recommend specific companies, you are welcome to contact any service that meets your needs.

Public Utilities

Public utilities are owned and maintained by municipalities or utility companies and are part of a large public network. Examples of public utilities are water mains, buried electric lines, gas mains, fiber optic and telecommunications lines, and sewers.

When approaching a home, the public utility will usually end at the meter, or the point of service. (Points of service can also be a transformer, vault, valve, or junction box.)

Private Utilities

Private utilities extend beyond the public utility network and are typically the responsibility of the property owner.

Examples would include:

• Power to detached garages, barns, pool heaters, and landscape lighting.
• Lines to septic systems and water lines running from the water meter to your home.
• Sewer lines connecting the city or county system to your home.
• Irrigation systems.
• Invisible pet fences.
• Propane lines, as well as connections for grills.
• Well Lines.