Date: March 16, 2011
Contact: Shannan Marcak, 928-638-7958
Grand Canyon, Ariz. – The National Park Service (NPS) will soon complete the installation of nine new water bottle filling stations in Grand Canyon National Park, making access to free Grand Canyon spring water easier than ever before.
The fillings stations are currently being installed in high traffic areas on both rims of the park. Six will be located on the South Rim:
- Hermits Rest (located near the other public amenities);
- Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trailheads; and
- Grand Canyon, Verkamp's and Desert View Visitor Centers.
Three water bottle filling stations will be located on the North Rim:
- North Kaibab Trailhead,
- North Rim Visitor Center, and
- North Rim Backcountry Office.
In addition to the NPS filling stations, Delaware North Companies' Desert View and Canyon Village Marketplaces have recently installed their own in-store, water bottle filling stations. The new filling stations augment the water already available from sinks and water fountains in buildings and facilities throughout the park. Some existing water fountains are also being equipped with bottle filling spigots. All of the water available at sinks, faucets, water fountains and filling stations can be used to fill bottles free of charge and is pure Grand Canyon spring water from the park's "approved public water supply", located at Roaring Springs.
The new filling stations are part of a green initiative being implemented to encourage park visitors and residents to think about the environmental impacts of the choices they make every day, starting with the water they drink. According to the park's Chief of Facilities Management, Tim Jarrell, "The amount of litter associated with disposable water bottles has been increasing along park trails and walkways, it's one of the major contributors of trash below the rim, and it's currently estimated that disposable water bottles make up as much as 30 percent of the park's solid waste stream." So, making it easier for people to refill a reusable water bottle made sense from both a fiscal and a resource management perspective. As a result, not only is water being made more readily available, but park concessioners, retailers and cooperating association bookstores (Xanterra South Rim, LLC, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Grand Canyon, Inc., Forever Resorts, L.L.C., and the Grand Canyon Association) are also assuring that reusable water bottles at a variety of price points are readily available in their facilities throughout the park.
"Grand Canyon National Park is a climate friendly park," explains Deputy Superintendent Barclay Trimble. "…which means that park staff, partners, concessioners and stakeholders have made a commitment to take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and educating the public about what they can do to reduce their impacts on the park. By simply refilling a reusable water bottle, you can reduce litter in the park and plastics in the waste stream. At the same time, you can enjoy Grand Canyon spring water and save money. Our water is free to anyone who wants to refill their bottle."
For additional information, please contact Public Affairs Specialist Shannan Marcak at 928-638-7958.
