Grand Canyon National Park Halts Overnight Stays After Sole Pipeline Fails

The South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is seen in Grand Canyon Village, Ariz., on Aug. 8, 2023. Alex Brandon/AP Photo

The pipeline supplying water to Grand Canyon National Park has failed after a series of breaks, making it impossible for the popular tourist destination to accommodate overnight guests during its peak season.

No water is being pumped to either the South or North Rims of the canyon’s 1,904 square mile expanse, the National Park Service (NPS) announced on Aug. 28, and water supplies are low. Hotels in the park, which are typically at full capacity around the Labor Day weekend, have temporarily closed their overnight accommodations starting Aug. 29.

The park’s water source, the 12.5-mile-long Transcanyon Waterline, broke down after a series of failures dating back to July, according to the federal agency. Built in the 1960s, the infrastructure has surpassed its expected lifespan and frequently breaks down, requiring lengthy and costly repairs for leaks.

As a result, the park has implemented strict water restrictions on top of conservation measures already in place. Officials are asking locals to shower for less than five minutes at a time, turn off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth, selectively flush the toilet, and wash laundry with full loads.

Facilities including the El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Yavapai Lodge, and Trailer Village RV Park are turning away overnight visitors.

Hotels outside the park in the nearby town of Tusayan, Arizona, won’t be affected, and the park will remain open during the day, the NPS said.

Camping will still be permitted with working faucets in bathrooms, although water spigots at campgrounds on the South Rim will be shut off.

In addition, fires will not be allowed on the South Rim and inner canyon areas. Fire restrictions prohibit all wood-burning and charcoal fires, including campfires, warming fires, and charcoal barbeques.

These measures will be enacted for the South Rim “for the foreseeable future,” park officials said, adding that they hope to restore full operational status for overnight guests as quickly as possible.

However, the repair process is complicated by the fact that the leaks occurred in a narrow, hazardous part of the canyon known as “The Box,” along with temperatures exceeding 91 degrees Fahrenheit at this time of year. A photo of one of the recent breaks, shared by park officials, shows a jet of water shooting from the pipe and across the narrow canyon.

Since 2010, the Transcanyon Waterline has suffered more than 85 major breaks that have each disrupted water delivery, but none as severe as what happened this summer, according to the NPS.

The federal agency recently started construction to rehabilitate the water line and upgrade the associated water delivery system. The $208 million project is expected to be complete in 2027.

“This crucial investment in infrastructure will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for six million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents,” the NPS said.