Grand Canyon Water Reclamation Plant facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Water Reclamation Plant
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | S of Grand Canyon National Park, Rte. 8A, Grand Canyon, Arizona |
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| Built | 1926 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000348 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 1974 |
The Grand Canyon Water Reclamation Plant is a special facility in Grand Canyon National Park. It was one of the very first plants in the United States to clean and reuse water. This plant helped create new ways of treating water that are still used today.
It is located on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This area, called Grand Canyon Village, is where many tourists visit. Water is very important and hard to find in the Grand Canyon. So, this plant was built to clean used water. This cleaned water could then be used for things like flushing toilets or watering plants. It was not used for drinking.
The plant was finished in May 1926. It made clean water much cheaper than getting new water. In 1934, the plant was made bigger. This helped it serve more buildings, like the Bright Angel Lodge.
How the Plant Works
This water treatment plant has many parts that work together. It includes screens, tanks, and filters. These parts help clean the water step by step. All the machines are inside a two-story building. This building also has an office, a lab, and a shop.
Cleaning the Water
The cleaning process starts by passing used water through a screen. This screen catches large pieces of trash. Then, the water goes through a finer screen. Any solids caught by the screens go to a special pond.
Next, the water goes into a tank. Here, grease and other solids are separated. After that, the water moves to aeration tanks. In these tanks, good bacteria help break down dirt. Then, the water goes through clarifier tanks. These tanks help make the water clearer.
Finally, the water passes through filters made of coal. This makes the water very clear. After filtering, a chemical called chlorine is added. Chlorine helps kill any remaining germs. The clean water is then stored in a large tank. This plant used its original equipment until it closed. Most of the machines are still there today.
Why This Plant is Historic
The Grand Canyon Water Reclamation Plant is a very important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 6, 1974. This means it is recognized as a special place in American history. It shows how people found smart ways to manage water in a dry place.
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AZ-3, "Water Reclamation Plant, Grand Canyon National Park, Coconino County, AZ", 44 photos, 15 data pages, 3 photo caption pages
