This break in the Transcanyon Pipeline at Grand Canyon National Park was spotted December 4/NPS

A pipeline break that sent a geyser above the Colorado River has prompted more water conservation measures at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona.

The break in the Transcanyon Pipeline, spotted earlier this week along the North Kaibab Trail, led to the following measures being implemented by park staff:

• Camper Services operated by Delaware North will be closed beginning on Saturday, December 7.
• Water spigots in Mather Campground will be turned off on December 7 and fire restrictions will be in place until further notice.
• Visitors and residents may experience additional water conservation measures.

Al existing conservation measures remain in place for the South Rim. Under existing water restrictions, park staff and partners have been able to conserve water by practicing basic water conservation measures at home and work, according to a park release.

Some ways residents and visitors can continue to help conserve water are to limit showers to five minutes or less, turn the faucet off while shaving or brushing teeth, selectively flush the toilet, wash laundry with full loads, and report leaks to appropriate offices.

It was just last week when another break led to the implementation of conservation measures on the South Rim (North Rim facilities are closed for the winter.) That break also was along the North Kaibab Trail.

Hikers in the backcountry should plan to carry sufficient water or be prepared with methods to treat water. For the most updated information on water availability in the backcountry, visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates web page at https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/trail-closures.htm.

The National Park Service is in the process of having the leaky pipeline rebuilt. 

Rebuilding the pipeline, at a projected cost of $208 million, will involve related upgrades to the associated water delivery system within the inner canyon and South Rim. This critical investment is expected to ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for the next 50 plus years, supporting 6 million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents, accoriding to a park release.

The Park Service is replacing the pipeline because it is beyond its expected useful life, experiences frequent failures, and requires expensive and continuous inner canyon maintenance work to repair leaks. Since 2010, there have been more than 85 major breaks in the pipeline that have disrupted water delivery. Costs for a single isolated break often exceed $25,000. Conditions in the inner canyon include extreme terrain and high temperatures, which increase risk to employees during repair operations. The system also supplies water for fire suppression for all South Rim and inner canyon facilities, including more than 800 buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places. 

Originally built in the 1960s, the pipeline is a 12 ½-mile waterline that provides the potable water for all facilities on the South Rim and inner canyon facilities within the park. The rehabilitation project will move the water intake for the system from Roaring Springs to Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch. This location will greatly reduce the length of the pipeline and eliminate a portion of the current waterline north of Phantom Ranch that experiences the most frequent failures. The water intake at Roaring Springs will continue to provide water to the North Rim.