Before trenching for irrigation lines, which consideration is important regarding utilities?

• A. To ensure the trench is wide enough for soil
• B. To choose the color of the pipe
• C. To align with street signs
• D. To avoid damaging underground cables and pipes

Answer: (D)

Preventing damage to underground utilities is the critical thing to consider before trenching for irrigation lines. Hitting buried cables, gas lines, or water mains can cause serious safety hazards, service outages, and costly repairs. The safe approach starts with locating all buried utilities before digging. Contact the local "call before you dig" service (often 811) to have utility companies mark the lines. Review their marks and any available maps, and use careful digging methods near those zones. If you encounter a line, stop and notify the utility owner. Plan the trench route to avoid or maximize clearance from any marked utilities, and adjust depth as needed.

Other considerations like trench width for soil, pipe color, or aligning with street signs don’t address the risk of striking buried infrastructure, so they don’t help prevent utility damage. The key is identifying and avoiding underground utilities.