Leaking pipes at the Grand Canyon will close hotel accommodations through Labor Day weekend, the National Park Service announced Thursday.
Authorities found four major breaks in the Transcanyon waterline, reducing the water supply in the canyon and forcing several hotels within the park to stop accepting overnight guests for the foreseeable future, according to a statement.
Hotels booked in Tusayan, the town outside the Grand Canyon, will not be affected.
There will be no water available at taps at South Rim dry camps, but bathroom taps will continue to operate. Daytime food and beverage services will continue to operate.
“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, flushing toilets selectively, washing clothes in full loads and reporting leaks to the appropriate offices,” the statement said.
Hikers are advised to carry sufficient water or methods to filter stream water while hiking. Campfires are not permitted on the South Rim or in the interior areas of the canyon.
Built in the 1960s, the Transcanyon water line carries water from the canyon's North Rim to the South Rim, but it suffers frequent breaks and has outlived its intended lifespan, the park service said. Since 2010, there have been 85 major breaks along the water line that have disrupted water delivery to the canyon.
Contractors are building a new water line to replace the damaged existing structure. It will cost $208 million and is expected to be completed in 2027.
