Pipeline Break Leads To Mandatory Water Conservation At Grand Canyon

A major pipeline break has forced mandatory water conservation measures to be implemented across both rims of Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

The break was discovered Saturday in the inner canyon along the North Kaibab Trail, a park release said. The loss of water has prompted conservation measures that require all park residents and visitors to conserve and reduce water usage wherever possible in homes, hotel rooms, and at the campgrounds.

Concessions operations were required to switch to disposable dishes and utensils; alter menus to use less water for food prep and dish washing; adopt low water use for hotel room cleaning; and serve drinking water at restaurants by request only. Although the park has entered water restrictions, park staff continue to encourage frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds using soap and water to prevent the spread of disease.

Mandatory water conservation measures include: 

• No watering lawns/plants 

• No washing cars, boats, bikes or any outside vehicle

• Run dishwashers or washing machines with only full loads (in eco mode if available)

• Utilize dry precleaning methods to scrape off food items before thoroughly washing dishes.

• Fill the sink with water while washing dishes to avoid running water 

• Take shorter or less frequent showers 

• Turn water off while you shave or brush your teeth

• Use low water cleaning techniques and reduce toilet flushing to the minimum necessary

• Camper Services may implement limited hours for showers and laundry services 

• Employee and concessionaire laundromats may implement limited hours

• Report drips, leaks, or other water loss to appropriate offices

• Remove outside hoses from spigots when not in use 

Drinking water was turned off at the following inner canyon locations: Mile-and-a-Half and Three-Mile rest houses, Cottonwood Campground and day use area, and Manzanita rest area. Hikers in the backcountry should plan to carry all their water or methods to treat water.

Grand Canyon's water system long has been troublesome. The current pipeline was constructed in the 1960s, is beyond its useful life, and experiences between five and 30 breaks/leaks a year due to pipe weld failures at joints, internal pipe corrosion, freezing, flooding, and falling rocks, according to park staff.

The pipeline provides water for more than 6 million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents, and also provides firefighting water.

In 2019, park officials settled on a plan to replace the antiquated and leaky Transcanyon Water Pipeline, but it'll cost roughly $100 million and the project isn't expected to be completed and up and running until 2025. Construction on the new pipeline could start this fall.