A sanitary sewer line was cleaned and inspected by televised survey and found to be broken and needs repair. Which should be done first?

• A. Dig immediately
• B. Check as-builts
• C. Contact other area utilities to mark out lines
• D. Determine traffic control requirements

Answer: (C)

Locating buried utilities before excavation is essential for safe sewer repair. When a sanitary sewer line is found broken, the first step is to contact other area utilities to mark out their lines. This helps prevent striking gas, electric, water, or communication conduits during digging, reduces the risk of outages or hazardous releases, and protects workers. Even with as-built drawings, underground conditions can change or be inaccurate, so on-site markings give the actual layout to work around. Once utilities are marked, you can review plans and as-builts to confirm the repair route, then address site logistics like traffic control. Digging immediately is risky because you’d be drilling into unknown underground lines, and traffic control needs depend on the exact work area after locations are known.