Death Valley National Park has launched a $69.5 million project to replace aging water and wastewater infrastructure over the next three years. The Furnace Creek Water Systems Rehabilitation Project officially began with a groundbreaking event in late October.
Superintendent Mike Reynolds said the project marks a turning point for the park. "For years, park staff have repeatedly repaired these aging pipes and wells, providing emergency service in some of the most extreme conditions in North America," Reynolds said. "Thanks to the Legacy Restoration Fund, we can stop patching these critical systems and start rebuilding them."
The project is funded through the Legacy Restoration Fund, part of the Great American Outdoors Act signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2020. It will provide reliable water and sanitation for park visitors, employees, The Oasis at Death Valley, and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe.
Work includes replacing a water treatment plant building at Cow Creek, rehabilitating the Furnace Creek water treatment plant, and upgrading the shared wastewater treatment facility. The project also covers upgrades to wastewater treatment ponds, modernization of sewage lift stations, new water wells, and replacement of more than 30 miles of water and sewer pipeline.
Several system components date to the 1960s and are well past their intended service life, with desert conditions accelerating deterioration. Recent failures have caused boil water advisories, outages, campground closures, and sewage spills. Construction will proceed in phases to limit disruptions, though brief localized water outages and temporary parking reductions may occur. Updates will be posted at nps.gov/deva.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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