Pipeline safety

To keep the pipeline and community safe, we follow recommendations from the United States Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA), as well as the Public Awareness for Pipeline Operator’s American Petroleum Institute.

These recommendations include:

• Managing trees to allow safe access to the pipeline
• Avoiding planting trees and vegetation with roots that can reach down and impact the pipeline

For more information about best practices, visit the following sites:

• Learn about Partnering to Further Enhance Pipeline Safety in Communities
• Receive guidance on the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) regulations
• Explore PHMSA's best practices for public outreach
• Read the recommended practices for public awareness at Pipeline Operator's American Petroleum Institute
• Read a Landowner's Guide to Pipelines by Pipeline Safety Trust

We must work together to reduce safety risks and help prevent accidents and damage to the pipeline.

Community members can help by:

• Calling 811 at least two days before starting a digging or landscaping project so crews can visit the property and mark any underground utilities. This service is free.
• Monitoring and reporting any suspicious activity near pipelines by calling 1-800-743-5000.
• Keeping the area above and around a pipeline free of structures and vegetation that could block emergency access or damage the pipe. Please follow our guide to safe landscaping when planning new landscaping projects.

Guide to safe landscaping

 Note: Illustration not to scale. Other factors like trunk size and soil conditions, among others, to be considered.

One important way you can help keep the area above the pipeline safe is choosing the right tree for the right location. Many types of low-growing plants and shrubs work well near the pipe. Most trees should be planted at least 10 feet away from the pipeline. More information on landscaping that works well near the pipeline is available in our guide to safe landscaping (PDF, 166 KB).

Need assistance or have a question?

For requests or questions on this safety work and keeping the area above the pipeline safe, please contact us at gasveg@pge.com.

Downloadable resources

• Program brochure (PDF, 667 KB)
• Program fact sheet (PDF, 298 KB)

Trees and structures can block access to a pipeline during an emergency and for critical maintenance work. Items located too close can also damage the pipe and potentially cause corrosion, which can lead to leaks. If you are concerned that a structure or tree is located over the pipeline in your community, please call PG&E at 1-800-259-6277 or email gasveg@pge.com.

Rerouting a pipeline is very disruptive to the community and environment and can take several years to complete. Instead, we can work together to keep the area above and around the pipe clear of items that can pose a safety concern. This will help ensure safe and reliable service for years to come.

We regularly inspect the area above and around the gas pipelines throughout our service area for any items that are too close to the pipe and may pose a safety concern. PG&E may conduct additional inspections of gas pipelines and electric lines throughout the year to ensure the system is operating safely.

Pipeline access cannot be blocked for the same reason that cars cannot park in front of a fire hydrant. While fire trucks do not need to regularly access the fire hydrant, when they do, they need immediate and unblocked access. In an emergency or natural disaster, structures or trees located over or around an underground pipe can delay access by safety crews and cause slow response times. Every second counts in an emergency.

If a gas line goes through a sewer line, it can obstruct the flow of waste and may eventually lead to a blockage or backup. Further, a natural gas leak can occur if a plumber damages the gas line while cleaning a sewer line with a gas line cross bore.

We have a dedicated program to proactively identify and repair cross bores through wastewater system inspections. We also use video cameras to inspect some of our newly installed gas lines. If we identify a natural gas cross bore, we will cover the cost of any associated sewer line repairs. We will leave you a courtesy notice if we are planning to work in your area.

A clogged sewer line may be the result of a cross bore with a gas line. Take precautions before any sewer cleaning. Ask your plumber or contractor to use a camera to assess the cause of the blockage and to clear the sewer using a plumbing snake or water jet rather than a cutting tool. Please call us at 1-800-743-5000 if you have any questions or concerns.

1. Stop all work immediately.
2. Call 1-800-743-5000 to alert PG&E that you have identified a cross bore. We will safely remove the gas line and make any necessary repairs.
3. If you or your contractor accidentally damages a gas line, do not attempt to stop the flowing gas or extinguish any fire. Leave the area and move to an upwind location. Call 9-1-1, then contact us at 1-800-743-5000.

Be safe: Call before you clear. Assume that all obstructions involve a cross bore.

Before you begin

• Look for trees or landscaping that could possibly be causing an obstruction.
• Ask the resident if there has been any recent utility work in the area.
• Use an in-line video inspection device if you have access to one, as it will help you to better assess the blockage.

During the cleaning

• Clear without a cutting tool. Use minimally invasive equipment, such as a plumbing snake or water jet, to attempt to clear the blockage.
• Feel for obstructions that do not seem to resemble tree roots or other common obstructions as the tool moves through the sewer line.

After your finish

• Check the blades for yellow or orange plastic when it is withdrawn from the sewer line. Natural gas utility lines are typically made of these colors of plastic.
• Watch for bubbles caused by natural gas escaping from the toilet or other entry point of the cutting equipment.
• Inspect the area with a Combustible Gas Indicator (CGI) or other gas-detection equipment, if available.
• The loss of gas service may not be immediately apparent. Provide the customer with the number for PG&E's Customer Service Line: 1-800-743-5000.

• Alert everyone nearby and leave the area immediately to an upwind location.
• Do not use anything that could be a source of ignition including cell phones, light switches, matches or vehicles until you are a safe distance away.
• Call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance and then call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

Download the sewer camera fact sheet (PDF, 438 KB)

Inspections are taking place system wide by subcontractors listed below:

• AirX Engineering
• APS Environmental
• Champion Cleaning Specialists, Inc (CCSI)
• Express
• Fletcher Plumbing
• G2 Integrated Solutions LLC
• Innerline Engineering
• Mears, Inc. (formerly Underground Construction)
• Monarch Pipeline & Hydrovac Inc
• Murgreen Environmental (MEC)
• Pinnacle Pipeline Inspection, Inc (PPI)
• Pipeline Video Inspection & Cleaning LLC (AIMS / PVIC)
• Professional Pipe Services (ProPipe)
• Quam
• Stone Bear Inspection Services
• Video Inspection Specialist (VIS)

Working in your area

If you have received a notification that sewer inspections are beginning in your area, we have contacted you for one of two reasons:

• Access may be required to your sewer clean-out or roof vent during these inspections. If so, our contractor will contact you beforehand.
• No inspection is needed at your property. We simply want you to be aware of the work that our contractor will be performing nearby.

The applicable checkbox will be marked on your notification.

Sewer inspection date

You will receive a notification that sewer and natural gas lines have been inspected at your property. The notification will inform you of the following information:

• Complete: No issues were found, or issues were found and repaired.
• Incomplete: Our contractor will be returning to complete your inspection on the date written on your notification, or we need to schedule an appointment with you for additional access to your sewer line. Please call PG&E's contractor to make an appointment. The contractor's name and telephone number will be listed on your notification.