Breaks in the main water pipe lead to service interruptions in the Grand Canyon National Park

Four major breaks in the 12.5-mile-long Transcanyon Waterline, the main water pipeline for Grand Canyon National Park, left South Rim campgrounds without guest accommodations and no water access on one of the national park’s busiest weekends.

Originally built in the 1960s, the Transcanyon Waterline has suffered 85 major breaches that disrupted water supplies since 2010. Construction recently began on a multi-year, $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL) that is scheduled to be completed in 2027.

Grand Canyon National Park will remain open through Labor Day weekend, but water restrictions will be in place. Read the full GCNP press release below:

Press release about Grand Canyon National Park:

Grand Canyon National Park will implement Level 4 water restrictions on the South Rim beginning Thursday afternoon, August 29, due to four significant breaks in the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, which supplies the park with water from the canyon. The park has been experiencing water supply issues since July 8, and water is currently not being pumped to either the South or North Rim.

In response, the following actions will be taken for the South Rim for the foreseeable future:

• Accommodation options for guests: Starting Thursday, August 29, overnight accommodations will be suspended at all park concessions. This includes Xanterra-operated hotel properties such as El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge and Phantom Ranch, as well as Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village in Delaware North. Overnight accommodations at off-site hotels in the city of Tusayan are not affected by the changes in park operations.
• Dry camping: Only dry camping is permitted. Water faucets will be turned off at South Rim campgrounds, but bathroom faucets will remain operational. Water faucet access will be available at the Mather Campground check-in kiosk.
• Fires are not allowed on the South Rim or in the inner canyon area. Fire bans prohibit the burning of wood and charcoal, including campfires, thermal fires, and charcoal grills. For more information on fire bans, visit the park’s fire information webpage.
• Operational services: The park will remain open during the day. All South Rim dining establishments, the Grand Canyon Clinic, and the post office will remain open. The Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim and other North Rim visitor facilities such as the campground will remain open.

These actions are critical to the safety and sustainability of water resources and the goal is to restore full operational status for overnight guests at the South Rim as quickly as possible.

Existing conservation measures will remain in place for both the North Rim and South Rim. We ask residents and visitors to help conserve water by limiting showers to five minutes or less, turning off faucets while shaving or brushing teeth, selectively flushing toilets, washing full loads of laundry, and reporting leaks to appropriate authorities.

Hikers in remote areas must carry any necessary water supplies or water purification devices. For the most current information on water availability in remote areas, visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates webpage at: Critical Backcountry Updates: Including Trail Closures and Restrictions – Grand Canyon National Park (US National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Originally built in the 1960s, the Transcanyon Waterline supplies drinking water to facilities on the South Rim and in the inner canyon. The waterline has exceeded its expected lifespan and is experiencing frequent failures that require expensive and ongoing maintenance to repair leaks. Since 2010, there have been over 85 major breaks, each of which has disrupted water supplies. The National Park Service recently began construction on a multi-year, $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline (tcwl) and upgrade of the associated water supply system. This important investment in infrastructure will ensure the park can meet the water needs of six million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2027. The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) provides over $40 million to replace the South Rim Wastewater Treatment Plant, which serves visitors, staff, housing, and support facilities. GAOA is part of a concerted effort by the National Park Service to address extensive deferred maintenance and repair needs in national parks.

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