What color is used to mark an area for locating utilities prior to excavations?

• A. Green
• B. White
• C. Blue
• D. Pink

Answer: (B)

Color-coded markings for underground utilities help crews recognize buried services and plan digs safely. White marks indicate the area of proposed excavation, signaling where you intend to dig and where utility locate workers should focus before breaking ground. Other colors correspond to existing or other types of marks—for example, red for electric, blue for water, green for sewer, yellow for gas, orange for communications, purple for reclaimed water, and pink for temporary survey marks—so they don’t designate the proposed digging area. That’s why white is the color used for marking an area to locate utilities prior to excavations.