If you’ve walked out to find colorful flags or spray paint marks scattered across your lawn, don’t panic. No, it’s not aliens. It’s just utilities getting ready to do what they do best—dig.
In Benbrook and across Texas, anytime a utility company needs to dig, they’re required to call in a request to mark underground lines. That’s where all those colors come into play. It’s called a utility color code, and each color tells you what’s hidden under the surface.
Red marks electric power lines. Yellow means gas or petroleum. Orange? That’s communication lines, like the internet and cable. Blue indicates potable water, and green signifies sewer or drain lines. Purple marks indicate reclaimed water and irrigation, pink shows temporary survey markings, and white outlines the proposed excavation area.
Before any digging happens, companies contact Texas811 (also known as Digtess) to come out and flag every utility line on your property. It’s meant to protect both your home and the workers doing the digging.
But here’s the catch: just because they’ve marked it doesn’t mean you’ll be thrilled about what comes next. Some residents have reported that contractors were not gentle with their lawns or driveways. If you’re concerned about your property, don’t be afraid to speak up. You can request that they bore underneath rather than tearing up your yard or concrete.
Curious about the markings or want to know when the digging will happen? Visit texas811.org/utility-color-code for a full breakdown, or contact the company listed on the notice near the flags.
The bottom line: those colorful lines are a heads-up that something’s about to happen underground. Knowing what each one means gives you a chance to stay informed and protect your space.
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