Visitors filling water bottles at Bright Angel Trailhead (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Effective immediately, mandatory water restrictions have been lifted in Grand Canyon National Park.
On September 5, park managers implemented mandatory water restrictions for the South Rim when water levels fell below an acceptable level due to a failure in the system. Water utilities crews immediately began working to address the problem, and were able to get the water flowing again within a few days. However, until water storage levels were adequate, park managers did not feel comfortable lifting restrictions.
As of today, September 18, the holding tanks are above the level necessary to end restrictions. Water for the South Rim comes from Roaring Springs and is treated before being pumped up to the rim. If there is not enough volume or pressure in the system to ensure adequate supplies of safe drinking water, restrictions are put in place in the interest of public safety.
Although restrictions have been lifted, Grand Canyon National Park staff would like to remind residents and visitors that water is precious in the desert, and we should always be conscientious of how much water we use and how we use it.
Hikers should also plan to carry their own water in the event water is not available in the inner canyon. You can find the most up-to-date information on where water is available on the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates Page.
— 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.