Pipeline repairs at Grand Canyon National Park have been successful, prompting officials to lift the suspension of overnight lodging on the South Rim starting Thursday. The repairs were necessary due to four notable breaks in the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, which led to hotels being unable to accommodate visitors since August 29 during a busy season for the park.
According to park spokesperson Joell Baird, the pipeline was fixed late last week, and there have been no new breaks following re-pressurization and regular water flow. Water storage tanks are currently at 13 ½ feet and are expected to reach 15 feet by Thursday, allowing the park to resume normal water conservation practices.
Notably, visitors were unable to stay overnight at El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel Lodge, Phantom Ranch, Maswik Lodge, and others due to last week’s water restrictions. Grand Canyon National Park has been battling water supply issues since July 8.
Although the cost of the pipeline repair and the impact on overnight reservations during the Labor Day weekend are unknown, the Transcanyon Waterline, constructed in the 1960s, is responsible for providing potable water to facilities on the South Rim and inner canyon. However, since 2010, there have been over 85 major breaks that have disrupted water delivery.
The recent pipeline failure occurred during a $208 million rehabilitation project of the waterline by the National Park Service, with upgrades to the water delivery system expected to be finished by 2027. The aim is to accommodate the water supply needs of the park’s 6 million annual visitors and its 2,500 year-round residents.
