ARIZONA NEWS

E. Coli found in water supply at bottom of Grand Canyon near Phantom Ranch

Aug 27, 2023, 2:00 PM

phantom ranch grand canyon...

(Flickr Photo/Grand Canyon National Park)

(Flickr Photo/Grand Canyon National Park)

PHOENIX — A boiled water notice has been issued for the Phantom Ranch area after E.coli bacteria were found in the water supply, the National Park Service said Friday.

The park service said visitors to the area should bring all water to a rolling boil for one minute per 1000 ft. elevation, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and food preparation.

Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Phantom Ranch is at the bottom of the Grand Canyon in the National Park, on the east side of Bright Angel Creek, a little over half a mile north of the creek’s confluence with the Colorado River. Opened in 1922, Phantom Ranch includes a lodge that is part of a National Trust for Historic Preservation program.

Although the exact cause for the contamination has not yet been identified, the park service said common causes include run-off entering the drinking water source following heavy rains, a break in the distribution system pipes or a failure in the water treatment process.

The park service said in order to mitigate the situation, control system adjustments were made and the chlorination process was restarted.

E. coli microbes can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children and people with severely compromised immune systems.

For more information, contact Patrick Perry at 970-786-0512 or 1575 Shuttlebus Road, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Cactus Park Precinct...

KTAR.com

Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Dec. 8-10

Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend from Dec. 8-10.

4 hours ago

Members of the U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection organize a group of migran...

Associated Press

Smugglers are bringing migrants to a remote Arizona border crossing, overwhelming US agents

With migrants crossing daily, the U.S. shut down the nearby crossing near Lukeville to free up officers to help with transportation.

7 hours ago

Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General...

KTAR.com

Arizona Attorney General Mayes launches investigation into gift card cloning

Arizona AG Kris Mayes launched an investigation into an organized retail theft scheme, his office announced Friday.

8 hours ago

James Osgood, Silver Alert...

KTAR.com

Silver Alert issued for 67-year-old man in Phoenix

The Arizona Department of Safety issued a Silver Alert for 67-year-old James Osgood, who went missing on Sunday.

8 hours ago

(Facebook Photo/Phoenix Police Department, file)...

KTAR.com

Police identify teen boy who died after shooting in central Phoenix

A teenage boy who was shot and later died in central Phoenix on Saturday afternoon has been identified, according to Phoenix Police. 

14 hours ago

Solar panels...

Damon Allred

Gila River Indian Community to receive solar panels over canals

The Biden-Harris Administration will give $5.65 million to construct and install solar panels over the Casa Blanca Canal.

17 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Follow @KTAR923...

Valley residents should be mindful of plumbing ahead of holidays

With Halloween in the rear-view and more holidays coming up, Day & Night recommends that Valley residents prepare accordingly.

...

Dierdre Woodruff

Interest rates may have peaked. Should you buy a CD, high-yield savings account, or a fixed annuity?

Interest rates are the highest they’ve been in decades, and it looks like the Fed has paused hikes. This may be the best time to lock in rates for long-term, low-risk financial products like fixed annuities.

...

Midwestern University

Midwestern University: innovating Arizona health care education

Midwestern University’s Glendale Campus near Loop 101 and 59th Avenue is an established leader in health care education and one of Arizona’s largest and most valuable health care resources.

E. Coli found in water supply at bottom of Grand Canyon near Phantom Ranch