BC One Call Limited (BC 1 Call) and the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (IIABC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration in support of worker and public safety, excavation safety, damage prevention, professional education, and the protection of British Columbia’s underground infrastructure.
Irrigation professionals regularly undertake excavation and ground disturbance during the installation, maintenance, repair, and replacement of underground irrigation systems across urban landscapes, parks, commercial properties, institutional sites, and agricultural operations throughout British Columbia. These professionals work around underground assets that include natural gas, petroleum, electrical, telecommunications, water, sanitary, storm, and other buried infrastructure, including high-pressure pipelines.
Through this collaboration, BC 1 Call and IIABC will work together to strengthen industry awareness, promote responsible excavation practices, and encourage informed planning before ground is broken. The two organizations will additionally support the advancement of professional standards, education, responsible irrigation practices, water stewardship, and infrastructure protection.
The organizations will explore and create opportunities to collaborate on professional education, conferences, webinars, industry events, public awareness initiatives, educational resources, stakeholder engagement, and other activities that advance safe excavation practices and help reduce damage to underground infrastructure across British Columbia.
“Every excavation project, regardless of size, carries the responsibility to protect the critical infrastructure beneath our feet. The risks near high-pressure pipelines are particularly concerning in the absence of proper information provided by BC 1 Call,” said Donna Grant, President of BC 1 Call. “IIABC has earned a strong reputation for advancing professional excellence in British Columbia’s irrigation industry. By working together, we can help ensure irrigation professionals have the knowledge, resources, and support they need to excavate safely, protect underground infrastructure, and safeguard the communities they serve.”
Poshak Sachdeva, Executive Director, Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia, said, “Professional irrigation is about far more than delivering water efficiently; it is about protecting people, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and carrying out every project responsibly. Safety is not simply a regulatory requirement it is a professional responsibility.
This partnership with BC 1 Call reflects our shared commitment to education, responsible excavation, and continuous improvement, helping ensure irrigation professionals have the knowledge and resources to work safely while protecting the underground infrastructure that British Columbians rely on every day. Together, we are strengthening professional standards across our industry while supporting safer communities throughout the province.”
The MOU establishes a framework for collaboration in areas where the mandates of both organizations intersect, creating opportunities to strengthen education, encourage industry best practices, raise awareness of responsible excavation, and support the protection of underground infrastructure throughout British Columbia. Together, BC 1 Call and IIABC encourage everyone undertaking excavation or ground disturbance to contact BC 1 Call before digging to help prevent damage to underground infrastructure and promote safer communities.
About BC 1 Call
BC One Call Limited (BC 1 Call) is a member-based, not-for-profit organization that helps protect British Columbia’s underground infrastructure through communication, collaboration, coordination, and damage prevention. By connecting excavators, contractors, homeowners, and businesses with participating infrastructure owners before digging begins, BC 1 Call supports worker and public safety, environmental protection, reliable service delivery, and informed excavation practices across the province. Available for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, BC 1 Call serves as British Columbia’s trusted notification service for participating owners of underground infrastructure. BC1C.ca
About the Irrigation Industry Association of British Columbia (IIABC)
IIABC aims to promote the interests and welfare of the irrigation industry and its members by facilitating communication and the exchange of information. We establish guidelines and standards for the design and installation of irrigation systems, foster collaboration among industry stakeholders, and enhance public awareness of the importance of effective water management. IrrigationBC.com
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