With the numerous factors that impact each locating project, an understanding of the different types of utilities, the surrounding environment and structures and our equipment is important for ensuring a job is done efficiently.

ProMark Utility Locating only employs highly-skilled individuals who know how to identify these differences and know what to do and how to adapt to ensure each and every locating project is a success. As we get started on a project, the more information we can gather from you to prepare in advance, the more efficient our skilled team is able to be.

As you assess your locating project needs, the following information may be helpful, both in allowing you to provide us information in advance or giving you guidance for any questions you need to ask us before a project begins.

Water Lines can be made from many different types of materials including cast iron, steel, copper, plastics and clay. The equipment and process we use to locate a utility is heavily influenced by the material of a utility, so if you are able to tell us in advance what the water line is made of it can greatly improve efficiency. These utilities will be marked in blue.

Electric Lines give off their own electromagnetic field. Larger electric lines can make it difficult for a locator to pick up a small secondary line nearby so we’ll need access to the utility aboveground in order to isolate our signal onto it. These utilities will be marked in red.

Communication Lines are primarily copper or fiber optic lines. Fiber optic lines can be located with electromagnetic equipment only if there is a tracer wire present. We may need to use ground penetrating radar depending on the material of communication lines. These utilities will be marked in orange.

Gas lines may be made of either metallic or nonmetallic materials. Propane, natural gas, oil and steam lines are all very different and require different equipment and expertise for proper location. These utilities will be marked in light green.

Sewer and storm drains can be difficult to locate because they are often made of nonmetallic materials and buried rather deep. Knowing about access points is essential for locating them, as snaking the lines is often necessary. These utilities will be marked in dark green.

Unknown Anomalies are a part of all locators’ work. There are times that we will encounter a signal or data signature that resembles that of a utility. Without an aboveground utility feature present or institutional knowledge of the utilities onsite, we won’t always be able to tell you exactly what the utility is. These utilities will be marked in pink.

Never hesitate to reach out to talk through your project. We are always here to help and to answer any questions you may have.