The Common Ground Alliance (CGA) – the member group that brings stakeholders from across the utility spectrum together with excavators, locators, and others – has issued an industry challenge it is calling 50 in 5. The goal is to cut excavation damage to buried facilities in half within five years. This is a great goal, but the potential to actually achieve it is low unless major systemic changes take place. 

In its announcement, CGA identified three areas of focus: (1) Effective and consistent use of 811, (2) Key excavator practices (potholing, maintaining clearance, etc.), and (3) Accurate, timely utility locating. These are the right areas to tackle, but the solutions are to initiate systemic reforms rather than individual adherence to best practice, as seems to be the challenge by CGA presently. Utilities and all stakeholders must adhere personally to best practices, but also help implement the broader reforms to one-call centers and cooperation with other stakeholders.