After a series of breaks in the main pipeline that supplies the popular tourist destination, visitors to Grand Canyon National Park can no longer stay in hotels.
The restrictions would remain in effect throughout the Labor Day holiday when hotels are near or at full capacity, Grand Canyon spokeswoman Joelle Baird said Wednesday.
The 12.5-mile-long Transcanyon Waterline supplies water from the canyon to the park and has already experienced four significant breaks, according to park officials. They said overnight accommodations will be suspended at all park concessions, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge and Phantom Ranch.
Hotels outside the park in the city of Tusayan are not affected.
The park will remain open during the day, and the Grand Canyon Lodge and other visitor services on the North Rim will also remain open.
According to officials, the park has been experiencing water supply problems since July 8 and water is currently not being pumped to either the south or north rim of the canyon.
Park management hopes to fully resume operations for overnight guests at the South Rim as soon as possible.
The Transcanyon Waterline, originally built in the 1960s, supplies drinking water to facilities on the South Rim and in the inner canyon. Park officials said the water line has exceeded its expected lifespan and is experiencing frequent failures. Since 2010, there have been more than 85 major breaks, each of which has cut off water supplies.
The National Park Service recently began a $208 million renovation of the aqueduct and modernization of the associated water supply system, which is expected to be completed in 2027.
The park aims to meet the water needs of six million annual visitors and about 2,500 year-round residents, officials said.
