Another pipeline break shuts down water at Grand Canyon park
Sep 15, 2017, 7:41 AM
(National Park Service Photo)
PHOENIX — Visitors to some areas in Grand Canyon National Park will be without water this weekend after a break in a pipeline.
Park officials said the popular Phantom Ranch will have access to stored water, but other sites will be without running water until at least Monday while crews repair the Trans-Canyon Pipeline.
Among the areas that won’t have water were Cottonwood Campground and Roaring Spring.
Water was expected to be shut off Friday so work could begin at the North Rim site. Hikers will need to bring their own water.
The line break is about five miles north of Phantom Ranch along Bright Angel Creek and Bright Angel Trail.
Much work has been on done the pipeline in the past few years. There have been at least 80 breaks since 2010.
The aging pipeline underwent work as recently as May after a rockslide months earlier ruined about 300 feet.
The Grand Canyon, which received nearly 6 million visitors in 2016, is one of the most visited U.S. national parks.
Plans have been made to replace the majority of the pipeline. Ideally, work would start in early 2020, and take three to four years to complete. Cost was estimated at $75 million to $124 million.
The North Rim was scheduled to close to visitors Oct. 15 for the winter.
Associated Press contributed to this report.