Sunrise on Nov. 26, 2024 from the South Rim (NPS Photo/J. Baird)
GRAND CANYON, AZ. — Grand Canyon National Park is implementing mandatory water conservation measures for the South Rim, effective immediately. These measures are in response to a pipeline break along the North Kaibab Trail, which has impacted the park’s water supply.
To help conserve water, all residents, visitors, and park operations are urged to reduce water usage wherever possible, including in homes, hotel rooms, and campgrounds. These efforts are critical to maintaining water availability while still ensuring public health and safety.
Mandatory water conservation measures include:
- Use low water cleaning techniques and reduce toilet flushing to the minimum necessary.
- Turn water off while you shave or brush your teeth.
- Take shorter or less frequent showers.
- No washing cars, boats, bikes, or any outside vehicle.
- Utilize dry precleaning methods to scrape off food items before thoroughly washing dishes.
- Fill the sink with water while washing dishes to avoid running water.
- Report drips, leaks, or other water loss to appropriate offices.
Conservation measures require that all concessions operations:
- Alter menus to use less water for food prep and dish washing.
- Adopt low water use for hotel management while still ensuring cleanliness and hygiene for guests.
- Serve drinking water at restaurants by request only.
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.
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
— Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.