Vermont Underground Locators

Q. How far down can you "see"?

Unfortunately, we cannot actually see underground any better than you can. However we have specialized equipment that we use such as ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic locators that we use to determine the approximate depth and location of utilities. In some cases GPR can identify utilities below ground up to 15 feet below the surface.

Q. When you talk about locating “conductive” lines, does that mean that you’re using a metal detector?

No. We use various electromagnetic transmitters to put a signal on each line then follow it out with a receiver tuned to the same frequency. This means we cannot always get a good signal on non-conductive pipe materials such as PVC or concrete. However, we have specialized equipment and over 25 years of experience we use to “find” those hard to find utilities.

Q. What's the difference between public and private utilities?

Public utilities are installed by utility companies to provide service to an area. These lines are owned and maintained by the public utility company regardless of whether they are located on public or private property. Public utilities typically include gas, power, and electric. Private utilities are those which go beyond service meters or public utilities, often onto privately owned property.

Q. Do you do geophysical surveys and/or located underground storage tanks?

Yes, we use a Geonics EM61 Mark II, which is a powerful time domain metal detector that is able to detect both ferrous and non-ferrous metal using a single transmitter coil and two receiver coil. It generates a magnetic field from the transmitter inducing eddy currents in nearby metal objects.

Q. Who is required to participate as a subscribing member utility?

Who may participate voluntarily, and what they must mark, varies from state to state. For instance, power companies are ALL required to participate in all states. However, what they mark varies. For example, in Vermont, most power companies only mark from the street to the meter. This means that if your meter is on a pole down by the road, the line from that pole up to your house will not be marked.