Due to a water shortage on the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, all overnight accommodations must be closed before Labor Day weekend.
Park officials are implementing Level 4 water restrictions because there are four breaks in the Transcanyon Aqueduct, which carries water from the inner canyon to the rims, making it impossible to pump water up.
All South Rim lodging options will close tomorrow afternoon, including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge and Phantom Ranch.
Campsites will remain open, but water taps will be turned off and fires will be restricted.
The park will remain open during the day and will offer some services, but water conservation measures will remain in place.
Hikers in remote areas must carry any necessary water or treatment facilities.
Officials hope to restore full operational status “as soon as possible.”
A $208 million water main replacement project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.
Built in the 1960s, the aqueduct carries water 12.5 miles through the Grand Canyon from Roaring Springs near the North Rim to residents and visitors at the South Rim.
The aging infrastructure frequently has fractures that often take days or weeks to repair, can cost tens of thousands of dollars, and disrupt water supplies. According to the National Park Service, more than 85 significant fractures have occurred since 2010.
The new water pipeline is designed to have a lifespan of over 50 years and will ensure that the park can meet the water supply needs of the 6 million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 residents who live in the park year-round.
