County Unveils Purple Markers for Differentiating Water Pipes

Workers doing excavation and other underground projects now have a new way of knowing what lies below the surface: purple markers indicating pipelines for reclaimed water.

At a ceremony Wednesday, the Orange County Water District introduced “the color purple” for lines that carry treated waste water for irrigating parks and golf courses and for other landscaping, recreational and agricultural needs.

“It is very important that everybody realizes what’s in the line,” said Ron Olitsky, president of Underground Service Alert, which acts as a liaison between contractors and owners of underground lines.

Olitsky said his Brea-based nonprofit organization has almost 800 members and includes virtually everyone who owns underground lines and operates in the public right of away. Owners of underground lines include telephone, gas and electric companies, cities and the county.

Drinking-water lines are identified with blue markers, he said, while green is for sewer lines, yellow for natural gas and oil lines, red for electric lines and orange for communication lines.

Markers take several forms, including patches painted on sidewalks and stakes in the ground.

Adding purple to the mix, Olitsky said, is “another way to serve the excavation community and the public to differentiate between the two types of water.”

Markers help workers avoid striking underground lines by accident, which can be disastrous. Those planning to do excavations can call Dig Alert at (800) 227-2600 for more complete information.