Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park might notice the park's drinking water is a bit cloudier than usual. Don't worry — it's normal.

In fact, this is an annual spring occurrence, park officials said earlier this month. And the reason for it has to do with the natural life cycle of the aquifer that feeds the Canyon's water supply.

Spring rains and melting snow bring increased water flows through the rock formations in the Grand Canyon area. As that water flows, it dissolves very small particles of inorganic material from the rocks. The particles are too small to be removed via the centrifugal separation process used at Roaring Springs, meaning they remain in the Canyon's potable water and are visible as cloudiness or a slight tint.

This turbidity has been extensively researched for the past 22 years by the National Park Service and other organizations, park officials said. It's inorganic, and no organic materials have been identified in the water; further, the dissolved material is well below maximum contaminate levels established by the Environmental Protection Agency and is not harmful to anyone's health.

The turbidity can, however, provide a medium for microbial growth, so every spring, the park increases the chlorine content of the drinking water and more frequently tests the water to make sure it's safe to drink.

Owing to an effort to reduce waste, disposable plastic water bottles are not sold at the park. Visitors are instead encouraged to fill up a reusable bottle at one of several water stations on each rim.