‘We anticipate miles of the pipeline being destroyed’: Roughly 40% of the Grand Canyon’s critical infrastructure damaged from flash floods

Flash flooding in the Grand Canyon has badly damaged the sole pipeline that supplies water to millions of visitors, according to Grand Canyon Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux. Park officials estimate that around 40% of the 12.5-mile Transcanyon Waterline pipeline was destroyed, but a full survey will not be completed until at least Tuesday.

The $200 million repair and replacement project, which began in 2023, was already underway when the floods struck. At least two people died in the flooding, and one person remains missing. Visitors and year-round residents are facing significant water reductions, including short showers, limited toilet flushing, and turning off the tap while brushing teeth.

The park has halted overnight accommodations, and officials advise that routine repairs will be complicated due to the pipeline's history of frequent breaks. The pipeline upgrade project, which involved installing helicopter pads, building water treatment facilities, and replacing several miles of pipeline, aims to move the water intake further down the canyon to Bright Angel Creek. The park had roughly 4.4 million visitors last year.