RV services at the Grand Canyon’s North Rim closed Saturday due to a second round of water restrictions caused by a broken pipeline.
Officials said Delaware North’s RV services were immediately closed, as were water stations at Mather Campground along the South Rim.
These steps complement conservation efforts undertaken earlier this week as officials continue to repair the pipeline rupture on the North Kaibab Trail.
The water problem first became apparent on Nov. 24, and a “new break in the 12-mile Transcanyon Waterline” has forced park officials to take further action to conserve water.
On Saturday, the National Park Service shared a photo on social media showing a column of water shooting into the air from an apparent rupture in a pipeline.
Grand Canyon National Park spokeswoman Joëlle Baird was not immediately available Saturday afternoon to discuss the timeline for the repairs or the conservation measures campers will need to take.
For now, the park is encouraging visitors to limit showers to five minutes and take other steps such as selectively flushing toilets and turning off the water when possible while brushing teeth or shaving.
Earlier this week, Baird said the Canyon’s water supply comes from Roaring Springs, a natural spring about 3,500 feet below the North Rim. That pipeline supplies all the drinking water for facilities in the South Rim and in the Canyon.
“This water is transported through an outdated pipeline built in the 1960s that experiences frequent breaks every year,” she said. “The disruptions will stop water flow to both the north and south edges, as well as to locations along the pipeline route.”
The park is in the process of repairing and redesigning the problematic pipeline, which has had more than 85 major breaks since 2010. Last year, the government awarded a $208 million contract to Stronghold Engineering Inc. of Perris, California, to handle the project.
Among the changes, it would move the water intake from Roaring Springs to Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch, shortening the length of the pipeline. It will also build additional aircraft landing pads and a water treatment plant.
Park officials have already asked campers to avoid washing vehicles, boats or bicycles and to limit water use when washing dishes. They also asked the public to report any leaks or other water losses, a step they repeated Saturday.
Vendors in the Canyon have been asked to limit serving water and change their menus to less water-intensive food options.
Hikers in the interior are asked to bring enough water for themselves. Water access is limited and availability limited to Havasupai Gardens and the Phantom Ranch Canteen. Water is not available in the Manzanita rest area.
The National Park Service owns the pipeline and was welding the infrastructure earlier this week.
For more information, please visit the park’s website. For updates, visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates page.
This article originally appeared in the Arizona Republic: Pipeline problems lead to water restrictions at the Grand Canyon
