A new break in Grand Canyon National Park‘s Transcanyon Waterline has caused greater water restrictions along the South Rim set to begin on Saturday, December 7. Park staff will work to repair the break, but until it’s repaired and the water storage takes again reach a sustainable level, the park will be in conservation mode.
Beginning on Saturday, December 7, camper services operated by Delaware North will be closed and water spigots in Mather Campground will be turned off, leading to new fire restrictions put in place until further notice. Additional water conservation measures are possible as the break is repaired.
Existing conservation measures that are currently in place for the South Rim will remain so, requiring that park staff and partners conserve water through basic water conservation measures both at home and at work. Residents and visitors should consider limiting showers to five minutes or less, turning the faucet off while shaving or brushing teeth, selectively flushing the toilet, washing laundry only with full loads, and reporting any leaks to appropriate offices.
“Hikers in the backcountry should plan to carry sufficient water or be prepared with methods to treat water. For the most updated information on water availability in the backcountry, visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates web page at https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/trail-closures.htm.“
A separate waterline break lead to mandatory water conservation in Grand Canyon National Park in late November, pushing both visitors and staff to contribute to conservation efforts.