Written by Ben Adams (ben@wpgusa.org)
The goal is to make sure the homeowner has identified known private irrigation lines and communicated their location before excavation begins.
Planning foundation waterproofing, foundation repair, or drainage work around your home? Before excavation begins, there’s another part of your property you need to think about: the underground irrigation and utility lines that may be close to your foundation.
Excavation is often necessary for exterior waterproofing, foundation repair, drainage improvements, and other below-grade work. Those projects can take place in the same areas where sprinkler and irrigation lines run.
Before the crew arrives, homeowners should identify known private irrigation lines and have unknown lines located and marked by the appropriate party.
Foundation Waterproofing and Sprinkler Lines
When a contractor excavates around a foundation, the work area may extend through landscaping, planting beds, turf, and other areas where irrigation lines have been installed.
Unlike public utility lines, your home’s sprinkler system is generally a private utility. Georgia 811 explains that its utility locate process marks public utilities, while private utilities—including irrigation systems—are the responsibility of the property owner.
That’s why calling 811 before excavation is important, but it shouldn’t be the only step you take when preparing for foundation or waterproofing work.
Georgia 811 Does Not Locate Your Private Sprinkler System
Georgia 811 should be contacted before qualifying excavation work. The service helps identify and mark underground utilities operated by participating public utility companies.
However, Georgia 811 identifies irrigation systems as private utilities. Private utilities generally need to be located separately by the property owner or a qualified private utility locating service.
That distinction is important when you’re preparing for:
- Foundation repair
- Exterior basement waterproofing
- Foundation waterproofing
- Drainage improvements
- Foundation excavation
- Sump pump discharge work
- Other excavation around your home
Call 811, but don’t assume that your sprinkler system has been located.
How to Locate Your Sprinkler Lines Before Excavation
Before your foundation waterproofing or repair project begins, spend some time identifying the irrigation system on your property.
Start with the areas you already know:
- Locate the irrigation manifold or backflow preventer.
- Identify visible sprinkler heads throughout the yard.
- Find valve boxes and irrigation control components.
- Look for existing irrigation markings or documentation.
- Check with the company that originally installed the system.
- Ask previous landscapers whether they have an irrigation diagram.
- Photograph and document the areas where irrigation lines are likely to cross the planned excavation area.
If you’re uncertain about the location of your irrigation system, contact your irrigation company or a qualified private utility locating service before scheduling excavation.
The Waterproof Group does not locate, mark, disconnect, or repair sprinkler or irrigation systems.
The goal is to make sure the homeowner and excavation contractor have useful information about what’s underground before work begins.
What to Share With Your Waterproofing or Foundation Contractor
Once you’ve identified your irrigation system, make sure the contractor knows about it before excavation starts.
Tell the project manager or crew:
- That an irrigation system is installed on the property
- Where the irrigation manifold or backflow preventer is located
- Where visible valve boxes and sprinkler heads are located
- Where you believe irrigation lines cross the planned work area
- Whether you have an irrigation diagram or installation records
- Whether a private utility locator has marked the lines
This information is especially helpful when excavation will take place close to the foundation.
Whether you’re scheduling foundation piers, bowing wall repair, exterior waterproofing, or exterior drainage improvements, identifying underground systems ahead of time can help everyone plan the work more effectively.
Protecting Drainage and Waterproofing Work Around Your Home
Sprinkler lines aren’t the only consideration when excavation is required around a foundation.
Depending on the property, there may also be:
- Drainage pipes
- Downspout extensions
- Sewer or water lines
- Electrical lines
- Landscape lighting
- Invisible pet fencing
- Other private utilities
Georgia 811 recommends contacting 811 before digging, while private utilities may require a separate private locating service.
This is one reason proper planning matters before any major foundation waterproofing or excavation project.
The objective isn’t simply to dig around the foundation. The work needs to address the water or structural problem while taking the surrounding property and underground systems into account.
What Happens If a Sprinkler Line Is Not Marked?
If sprinkler or irrigation lines are present in the area where excavation will take place, the homeowner is responsible for having those private lines properly located and marked before work begins.
The Waterproof Group does not locate, mark, disconnect, or repair sprinkler or irrigation systems. If you have an irrigation system near the planned work area, it should be identified and clearly marked before our crew begins excavation.
If the location of an irrigation line is unknown or cannot be confirmed, contact your irrigation company or a qualified private utility locating service before the project begins.
Providing that information in advance helps establish the excavation area and allows the waterproofing or foundation work to proceed with the information available about existing private utilities.
Important: Georgia 811 does not locate private irrigation systems, so homeowners should not assume that calling 811 means their sprinkler lines have been identified.
Planning Foundation Waterproofing or Repair in Marietta?
If your home needs foundation waterproofing, drainage improvements, or foundation repair, excavation may be part of the solution.
The Waterproof Group works on projects where protecting the foundation and managing water around the home are critical parts of the job. Before excavation begins, homeowners should identify known private utilities and communicate their locations to the contractor.
If you’re dealing with basement water, foundation movement, drainage problems, or exterior moisture issues, the right solution starts with understanding what’s happening around your foundation.
You can learn more about foundation repair, exterior basement waterproofing, drainage improvements, and sump pump installation before scheduling your project.
Planning excavation around your foundation? Make sure your private underground utilities are properly located and marked before work begins, then let your waterproofing or foundation contractor focus on the problem they’re there to solve.
