By admin 
GRAND CANYON, AZ (AZFamily) — Deadly flash flooding last weekend destroyed the Grand Canyon’s Trans Canyon waterline, prompting park officials to ask guests to conserve water during Labor Day weekend. Park officials estimate there are only a few weeks of water storage left.
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Guests asked to bring own water
Guests are being asked to bring in their own drinking water and use portable toilets and sinks inside the park.
Eric Fergason is visiting from Flagstaff and had plenty of water packed.
“We wanted to come at least, just take care of ourselves and not put any additional strain if we didn’t have to on the folks who are working hard out here,” Fergason said.
Fergason said living close to the park, he wants to do everything he can to support it.
“All of it’s been kind of heartbreaking, and it’s an amazing feat of engineering the water lines and everything,” he said. “So seeing the destruction and everything is always extraordinarily sad.”
Portable toilets, handwashing stations added
Bathrooms are still open, but the park has brought in 52 portable toilets and more than 100 handwashing stations.
Monday marks a full week since hotels inside the park have been closed to overnight accommodations.
“Every gallon we can save on the South Rim gives us the repair and recovery time we’re going to need, and even more time is we can all really focus,” park officials said at last week’s community meeting.
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Park officials shared over the weekend that water conservation efforts are working, as stored water is declining at about half the rate of a normal day.
Fergason said it has been a rough year for the park and surrounding communities, but it also shows the strength of park employees.
“You get to see the community rally around it,” he said. “You get to see what the park service does to take care of the community.”
People who live at the park are asked to use water only for hygiene and sanitation. The park will provide them with drinking water.
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