The 16-mile pipeline that supplies the water used at the Grand Canyon's South Rim will be shut down next week so a new section can be installed, Grand Canyon National Park announced this week.
Starting tomorrow (Sunday, October 18), the Trans-Canyon Pipeline, which pipes water from Roaring Springs on the North Rim, will be turned off. The new half-mile section of pipe is being installed in the Phantom Ranch area at the bottom of the Canyon. The shutdown is expected to last through the end of next week, the park said in a news release.
Water will still be available at Phantom Ranch and on the South Rim, but power will be turned off at Phantom Ranch starting Monday, October 19. Visitors and residents are being encouraged to practice basic water-conservation measures, including taking shorter showers and not watering lawns or washing cars.
Drinking water will not be available at Bright Angel or Cottonwood campgrounds, Roaring Springs or the Manzanita Day Use Area during the shutdown, so hikers and backpackers should bring their own water or be able to filter creek water for drinking.
In the November issue of Arizona Highways, on newsstands now, we took a look at the daily life of Phantom Ranch's dedicated employees. And early next year, look for a story in the magazine about the Trans-Canyon Pipeline's history and future.