Water service is expected to return to Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim by Thanksgiving, a major step toward restoring normal operations following flooding that severely damaged the park’s water system.

The National Park Service announced Saturday that it expects to begin distributing water from its new treatment plant to South Rim residences by Thanksgiving. The restoration would also allow concessionaires to begin a phased return of overnight guest services.

The timeline offers the clearest indication yet of when the South Rim could begin returning to more normal operations following the water emergency.

Before water can reach the South Rim, crews must begin pumping from the Bright Angel Creek intake to the new water treatment plant. The park currently projects that pumping could begin by Nov. 16.

In the meantime, the National Park Service is working on an agreement to truck approximately 200,000 gallons of water per day to the South Rim to replenish storage tanks and maintain operations while repairs continue.

Park officials said the additional water should help stabilize the system if daily consumption remains near its current level of approximately 137,000 gallons.

The water emergency followed an Aug. 29 flash flood that damaged critical infrastructure in the canyon, including the water intake system and portions of the Transcanyon Waterline.

A second flash flood on Sept. 16 damaged temporary infrastructure crews had installed as part of the recovery effort, further complicating repairs.

Much of the park’s new water infrastructure survived the flooding, however, allowing the National Park Service to move forward with the replacement system.

Even after pumping resumes, officials estimate it will take approximately 45 days to completely refill the South Rim’s water storage tanks.

Stage 4 water restrictions remain in effect while the work continues, and visitors and residents are being asked to conserve water and use temporary restroom, handwashing and drinking-water facilities provided throughout the park.

Grand Canyon National Park remains open, although some services and inner-canyon areas continue to be affected.

The Thanksgiving target remains tentative and will depend on construction progress and conditions in the canyon.