Utilities: Marking Colors

The paint colors used to mark utilities lines is presented above. Six of the eight colors identify utility pipelines. 

  • Red: electric power lines, cables, conduit, and lighting cables
  • Orange: telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables, or conduit
  • Yellow: natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum, or other flammables
  • Green: sewers and drain lines
  • Blue: drinking water
  • Purple: reclaimed water, irrigation, and slurry lines
  • Pink: temporary survey markings, unknown/unidentified facilities
  • White: proposed excavation limits or routes

The last two, pink and white, mark survey points and limits of excavation. Contractors typically use pink to mark the limits of their work, though we have seen silver paint frequently used. Zimmer prefers to use white marking paint to mark work limits. The white fades away rather quickly, so our markings don’t linger too long after the project. 

Image from the American Public Works Association

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