Grand Canyon Hotels Close Amid Pipeline Breaks

Overnight stays in Grand Canyon National Park hotels are suspended due to recurring failures in the sole pipeline supplying water to them. The restriction disrupts the peak Labor Day holiday period when hotels are at near-full capacity, park spokesperson Joelle Baird stated. This move, though unprecedented, is in response to the 12.5-mile-long Transcanyon Waterline's recent significant breaks.

Originally built in the 1960s, the waterline has experienced over 85 major disruptions since 2010. Concessions within the park, including El Tovar and Bright Angel Lodge, are halting overnight services until the situation is resolved. Hotels outside the park, notably in Tusayan, Arizona, remain unaffected. The park area will still be operational for day visitors, with certain North Rim services still available.

Efforts to conserve water are being encouraged until repairs are complete, with ongoing work complicated by the precarious location of the pipeline's breaks, a part of the canyon called "the box." The National Park Service has launched a $208 million project to rehabilitate the waterline, expected to conclude by 2027, to meet the water demands of roughly 6 million visitors and 2,500 residents annually. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)