Public vs Private Utilities
What Are Public Utilities?
Public utilities are lines and infrastructure owned and maintained by a municipality or utility company. Before excavation begins, contacting 811 allows participating utility operators to mark the approximate location of their underground facilities at no charge to the excavator.
In Tennessee, excavators are required to contact Tennessee 811 before digging and allow the necessary waiting period for affected utility operators to respond.
What Are Private Utilities?
Private utilities are lines and infrastructure that are owned or maintained by the property owner and are not typically included in a standard 811 locate. These utilities can extend beyond the utility company's ownership or service point and may encompass electrical lines, water lines, gas lines, sewer laterals, communication lines, lighting circuits, irrigation systems, and other privately owned infrastructure.
This is where a professional private utility locating service can assist. Alsip Locating Service uses advanced techniques such as GPR concrete scanning and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to accurately identify private underground utilities before excavation, drilling, boring, or construction begins.
Always make 811 your first call before you dig. When private utilities may be present, Alsip Locating Service can help locate what might fall outside the scope of the public utility locate.
Common Types of Private Utilities
Alsip Locating Service, LLC offers private utility locating services in Memphis, Tennessee, and across the Mid-South region. Our skilled technicians utilize advanced subsurface technologies, including GPR concrete scanning and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), to accurately locate underground utilities before excavation, drilling, boring, construction, and site development.
Whether you're embarking on a commercial, industrial, or residential project, our mission is to deliver reliable subsurface information, minimizing the risk of utility damage, preventing costly delays, and avoiding unforeseen issues before the work commences.
Electromagnetic Locating Technology
Electromagnetic (EM) Utility Locating, alongside GPR concrete scanning, is a proven method used to accurately identify and trace the path of buried conductive utilities, including electric, gas, telecommunications, cable TV, and metallic water lines. By using specialized transmitters and receivers, a signal is applied to the utility, allowing technicians to determine its location, direction, and depth from the surface.
EM locating, along with ground penetrating radar for more comprehensive assessments, plays a critical role in preventing utility strikes, reducing excavation risks, and improving project safety. By accurately marking underground infrastructure before digging begins, contractors and project owners can effectively manage private utility locating and avoid costly damages, delays, and service interruptions.
Ground Penetrating Radar Technology
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a non-destructive technology leveraged for private utility locating and to effectively locate and map underground utilities, structures, and subsurface features. GPR operates by transmitting high-frequency radar waves into the ground and evaluating the reflected signals to identify buried objects and variations in material composition beneath the surface.
Unlike traditional locating methods, GPR concrete scanning is capable of detecting both metallic and non-metallic utilities, including PVC, concrete drains, fiber-optic cables, underground storage tanks (USTs), septic tanks, and other non-conductive systems, making it an effective solution for comprehensive underground analysis.
Concrete Scanning Technology
GPR concrete scanning, utilizing ground penetrating radar, helps identify what’s inside concrete prior to cutting, drilling, or coring. This innovative technology not only assists contractors in understanding the internal structure of concrete but also plays a crucial role in private utility locating—reducing risk, saving money, and keeping projects on schedule.