How deep are the Bell lines buried in my front lawn?

[Victoria1]

Hello, just wondering if someone can tell me how deep the cables are buried that are in my front lawn.  There is a Bell box on my lawn so I know roughly where the line runs up to my house.  I want to lay new sod and was hoping to avoid requesting a LOCATE.

Thank you.

[dks · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your question. Your landscaping contractor will contact ONECall directly for all your utility locates. 

[WelshTerrier · Accepted solution]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

Very good question.

The Bell box out front is only one indicator that there are cables & wires in the vicinity. The main cables that are in front of your property are generally 2-4 feet below ground. From the property line in to your home, the wire depth can be up to 3 ft. in common trench with other utilities to just inches below the sod if they have been replaced. In this case, they were likely hand dug, spaded or machine vibrated to just below the sod.

To be on the safe side, you need to request a locate. Homeowners, or Contractors on their behalf, must submit a locate request through Ontario One Call whether they are excavating on public or private property.

Requesting a locate through Ontario One Call is free.

Homeowners: Public Utility Locates - Ontario One Call

When you submit a locate request you will be advised to obtain private locates for any privately owned underground infrastructure services that you have on your property as well. E.g. Water, gas, hydro, bell, cable tv, etc.  Do you have a gas BBQ? Sprinkler system? Buried hydro line to external building? Exterior lighting? Swimming pool? etc.

Thank you for reaching out.

Take care.

[kanerr]

I have a question relating to your answer. A dandelion weeding tool, and an aerating tool extend below the sod. Am I to call bell each time I want to weed dandelions or use my hand aerating tool ?  . I just had fibe installed and it is 1 inch below the surface, at least in some places. This makes no sense to me.  Please advise.

[dks]

Interesting question . The fibre optic cable itself is very tough and resilient. It is unlikely you will hit anything when weeding or aerating your lawn. Even if you do, it won’t do much damage. The only thing I have seen damage a fibre optic cable was a sidewalk snow plow that ran along several feet of poorly buried cable and eventually cut it. 

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

Are you serious or is this a somewhat facetious question? As a member of this forum, I can only try to provide you with assistance in some form of help. I do not work for Bell. If you are looking for a definitive answer to your question; I can not provide one to you.

That is a decision that you must make & is well within your circle of influence to decide upon. 

I do not see a need to call Ontario One Call each & every time you wish to remove a dandelion & are looking to aerate your lawn. I am quite sure that you have pretty good idea & understanding now where the cable is located.

If you plan on digging, then by all means you should call  Ontario One Call. It is your property, your home & your service.

You now know where the fibre cable is located. As I mentioned in an earlier reply, replacement cables are "just inches below the sod." Keeping this in mind; it is ultimately your decision to make.

Thank you for posting your question.

Take care.