Societal Cost of Damaging Buried Utilities

Mike Sullivan - President - Utility Safety Partners

Damaging buried utilities carries significant societal costs that extend beyond the immediate expenses of repairs. These costs can be categorized into direct, indirect, and societal impacts:​

Direct Costs:

• Repair Expenses: The immediate cost of fixing damaged infrastructure, including labor, materials, and equipment.​

Indirect Costs:

• Service Disruptions: Interruptions to essential services such as gas, water, electricity, and telecommunications can affect households and businesses, leading to economic losses.​
• Emergency Response: Resources allocated to manage incidents resulting from utility damages, such as firefighting, medical services, and law enforcement.​
• Property Damage: Collateral damage to nearby properties can occur, leading to additional repair and compensation costs.​
• Business Downtime: Companies may experience operational halts due to service outages, resulting in lost revenue and productivity.​

Societal Costs:

• Public Safety Risks: Damaged utilities, especially gas or electrical lines, pose significant hazards to public safety, potentially leading to injuries or fatalities.​
• Traffic Disruptions: Repair activities often necessitate road closures or detours, causing traffic congestion and delays.​
• Environmental Impact: Incidents like sewage leaks or chemical spills can harm local ecosystems and require extensive environmental remediation.​

Quantifying these costs highlights the economic impact of utility damages. In the United States, the Common Ground Alliance’s 2020 DIRT Report estimated that the societal costs of damages to buried utilities were approximately $30 billion in 2019.

In Canada, the societal cost of damages to underground infrastructure has been estimated to exceed $1 billion annually. Considering the province's extensive infrastructure and active industries, it’s estimated that damages in Alberta accounts for at least a quarter of this figure. The most frustrating metric? The root cause of over 40% of all damages to buried utilities in Canada is no locate request.

These statistics underscore the critical importance of adhering to safe excavation practices, such as contacting local utility notification centers before digging, to mitigate risks and reduce the substantial economic and societal costs associated with utility damages.

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