Emergency Water Restrictions in Place For Grand Canyon

People have been ordered to save water ahead of Thanksgiving, after a pipeline break in the Grand Canyon National Park.

Immediate mandatory water conservation measures were imposed at the South Rim following the breach along the North Kaibab Trail.

The disruption has significantly reduced the park's water supply, and officials are urging residents, visitors, and staff to take action to conserve resources while ensuring public health and safety.

"Grand Canyon National Park is implementing mandatory water conservation measures for the South Rim, effective immediately," a statement from the National Park Service (NPS) said on Tuesday.

The park is asking everyone to reduce water usage in homes, hotels, and campgrounds. Suggested measures include minimizing water use for cleaning, such as reducing toilet flushing and turning off taps while brushing teeth or shaving.

A view of the rugged Grand Canyon National Park at sunset. Another pipeline break has forced water restrictions upon visitors, businesses and residents. joebelanger/Getty

Visitors are encouraged to limit showers, avoid washing vehicles or equipment, and scrape food off dishes before washing to avoid running water unnecessarily.

Sink washing is recommended over continuous rinsing, and leaks or water loss should be reported immediately to appropriate authorities.

The pipeline breakage is just the latest in a series of faults that have blighted the national park's water supplies in recent years.

Water restrictions were imposed back in August due to another pipeline break on the North Kaibab Trail.

Newsweek contacted the NPS via phone and email for comment.

"Happens every year," one disgruntled member of the public commented on the park's Facebook post announcing the measures.

The pipeline has suffered 85 major breaks since 2010, prompting the NPS to announce last year that it would be undertaking a major $208 million project to repair the aging waterline.

"This huge undertaking is an example of the work taking place in national parks across the country to repair or replace vital infrastructure that provides visitors with safer and more enjoyable experiences," NPS director Chuck Sams said in a statement at the time.

"For too long, large-scale needs in national parks could not be properly addressed due to a lack of funding."

Despite regular interruptions to the park's water supply, the replacement project is not scheduled to be completed until 2027.

In this latest round of restrictions, concessions operations have also been directed to adapt their practices to conserve water.

Restaurants are altering menus to reduce water-intensive food preparation, serving drinking water only upon request and using low-water methods for cleaning and dishwashing. Hotels are implementing strategies to conserve water in housekeeping.

The update added, "Hikers in the backcountry should plan to carry sufficient water or be prepared with methods to treat water. Water is currently unavailable at the Manzanita Rest Area."

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