What is the most common cause of faults in underground systems?

The most common cause of faults in underground systems is indeed related to dig-ins. This term refers to instances when excavation work, often done by contractors or individuals who are not familiar with the precise location of underground utilities, results in accidental damage to the cables or conduits. These unintentional breaks can lead to significant faults that disrupt service and necessitate extensive repairs.

Excavation near underground utilities can occur in many different contexts, such as construction, landscaping, or utility upgrades, and the lack of proper locational awareness can lead to these damaging encounters. Additionally, it highlights the critical importance of utility marking and communication with relevant utility companies before any excavative work begins to prevent such incidents.

Other factors like equipment failure, environmental conditions, and aging infrastructure also contribute to faults, but they do not occur as frequently as dig-ins. Equipment failures can occur due to wear and tear or manufacturing defects. Environmental conditions could refer to issues like flooding or soil movement affecting equipment but are typically less frequent than human error associated with dig-ins. Similarly, aging infrastructure can lead to increased susceptibility to outages, but the immediate and common cause of faults remains linked to physical interference by digging activities.