Flash floods cripple Grand Canyon water line, delaying multi-year upgrade

Flash floods this weekend ripped apart an estimated 40% of the Grand Canyon’s 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline, a critical conduit for supplying water to the park’s millions of visitors. Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux indicated that a comprehensive survey of the damage will not be finished until Tuesday, delaying a $200 million repair and replacement effort that was already underway. The park has imposed strict water-conservation measures, including reduced shower times and selective flushing, and is hauling water in tanker trucks as needed.

The aging pipeline, constructed in the 1970s and broken more than 85 times since 2010, is being upgraded with new flex-steel sections, helicopter pads, and treatment facilities, with plans to move the intake to Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch. The flooding also caused at least two deaths and left one person missing after rescuing roughly 80 people. Officials warn that additional flooding remains possible and advise visitors to modify outdoor plans.