Grand Canyon’s only water pipeline fails, prompting shutdown of overnight hotel stays

The main pipeline providing water to the Grand Canyon National Park has failed after a series of breaks, leading to a sudden and sweeping shutdown of overnight hotel stays during one of the busiest times of the year for the famous tourist destination.

Water restrictions will run throughout the Labor Day holiday when hotels are near or at capacity. It’s an unprecedented outcome, even for a pipeline with a long history of frequent failures.

Since July 8, the park has faced challenges with its water supply, and no water is currently being pumped to either the canyon’s south or north rims, officials said.

Heidi Zahner Younts, of Iowa City, Iowa, said Wednesday in a comment on the park’s Facebook page that she had “the trip of a lifetime” with her daughter planned for the weekend, calling the situation sad.