Death Valley National Park to Modernize Critical Water and Wastewater Infrastructure through $69.5 Million Great American Outdoors Act Investment

Death Valley National Park to Modernize Critical Water and Wastewater Infrastructure through $69.5 Million Great American Outdoors Act Investment

Project will ensure continued reliable water and wastewater services in one of the nation’s most extreme environments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 29, 2026

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — The National Park Service announced today that Death Valley National Park will begin an $69.5 million infrastructure project this fall to modernize two critical water systems and a wastewater system. Funded through President Donald J. Trump’s Great American Outdoors Act’s Legacy Restoration Fund, the three-year project will improve essential infrastructure responsible for providing safe drinking water and reliable wastewater treatment for park visitors, employees, hotels, campgrounds and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe.

Many components of the existing utility systems date to the 1960s and have exceeded their intended service life. Extreme desert conditions, including water temperatures that frequently exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and recurring flash floods, have accelerated deterioration of pipelines, valves and other infrastructure, increasing maintenance demands and the risk of service disruptions.

“Reliable drinking water and wastewater systems are fundamental to every visitor’s experience and to the people who live and work in Death Valley, the hottest and driest national park in the country,” said Mike Reynolds, Death Valley National Park superintendent. “This Great American Outdoors Act investment will strengthen these essential systems and ensure reliable water and wastewater services for visitors, employees and the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe for decades to come.”

The project will rehabilitate the water systems at Cow Creek and Furnace Creek and their shared wastewater treatment facility. Plans include replacing approximately 15 miles of water pipeline, upgrading water storage tanks, drilling new wells, replacing the reverse osmosis treatment plant building at Cow Creek, rehabilitating the reverse osmosis treatment plant at Furnace Creek, replacing 16 miles of sewer pipeline, modernizing sewage lift stations and upgrading wastewater treatment ponds.

The investment addresses long-standing infrastructure challenges that have affected park operations. Water system failures have required repairs about once a week in recent years, resulting in periodic water outages and boil water advisories. Aging wastewater infrastructure has also caused sewage spills and temporary campground closures. Once completed, the rehabilitated systems will improve operational reliability, reduce emergency repairs and provide resilient utility infrastructure capable of serving the park well into the future.

Construction is slated to begin this fall and will be phased to minimize disruptions to visitors and park operations. While short, localized water outages may occur, visitors and residents can expect continued access to safe drinking water and reliable sanitation throughout the project. Temporary impacts will include reduced parking in some areas for construction staging. Any service changes or closures will be announced on the park website at nps.gov/deva.

nps.gov

News Staff