Markout colors
What do the utility markout paint colors mean?
Utility marks follow the APWA uniform color code: red for electric, yellow for gas and oil, orange for communications, blue for potable water, green for sewer and drains, purple for reclaimed water, pink for temporary survey, and white for your proposed excavation.
The full code:
- White: proposed excavation. You (or your locator) mark in white where you intend to dig.
- Pink: temporary survey markings.
- Red: electric power lines and conduit.
- Yellow: gas, oil, steam, and other flammables. Treat every yellow mark like it's live, because it is.
- Orange: communications, phone, cable, fiber.
- Blue: potable water.
- Purple: reclaimed water and irrigation.
- Green: sewer and storm drains.
Reading the marks
Marks show the approximate horizontal location, not depth. The tolerance zone, usually 18 to 24 inches each side of the mark depending on state, is hand-dig territory. Offsets are sometimes marked with an arrow and a distance when the surface can't be painted directly over the line.
Photograph the marks the day they go down. Paint fades, grass gets cut, and rain happens; a dated photo of fresh marks has settled more than one argument about whether a line was marked.