News & Education
What we've learned, written down
Colorado damage prevention news, plain-language explainers on the law, and the safe digging education we hand out at every event.
- Damage PreventionJun 17, 2026
Colorado cut underground damages 36% in one year. What changed?
2,198 damages on 1.2 million locate requests — the lowest damage rate Colorado has recorded. The improvement wasn't luck, and it wasn't evenly distributed.
Read more → - Damage PreventionMay 6, 2026
The number one cause of damage in Colorado is still not calling 811
451 damages in 2024 happened on jobs where nobody ever opened a ticket. It has been the leading cause every year since 2018.
Read more → - EducationApr 8, 2026
What do the paint marks mean? The APWA color code explained
Six colors, one national standard, and a seventh that means something different from all the rest.
Read more → - HomeownersApr 1, 2026
Building a fence this spring? Call 811 first — it's free and it's the law
Fence posts are one of the most common ways homeowners hit a buried utility. The call costs nothing and takes about ten minutes.
Read more → - Best PracticesMar 11, 2026
White lining: ten minutes that prevent most locate disputes
The cheapest damage prevention tool on the job is a can of white paint, and it is the one most often left in the truck.
Read more → - Damage PreventionFeb 19, 2026
Denver metro by the numbers: 632,000 tickets, 857 damages
Our seven counties handle more than half of Colorado's excavation volume at a damage rate better than the state average. Here is the county-by-county detail.
Read more → - Law & RegulationJan 14, 2026
SB 18-167: what changed for Colorado excavators
Colorado's 2018 damage prevention overhaul created a commission with real enforcement power and shifted responsibility for service laterals.
Read more → - EducationNov 13, 2025
Positive response: how to read your Colorado 811 ticket
Your ticket tells you which facility owners were notified and what each one reported back. Knowing how to read it is the difference between waiting and guessing.
Read more →