Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 23/02) - Yellowknife children can no longer read about Mr. Creep, a burglar who eventually mends his ways. That's because Mr. Creep the Crook is now in a waste basket behind the reference desk of Yellowknife library.

The book is the slightest casualty -- but the only book destroyed -- in a water leak that caused $75,000 in damage to three Northern Heights suites, and another $5,000 to the Yellowknife Public Library.

A water hose connecting to a sink on a third-floor suite burst around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, gushing water into the suite and the two neighbouring residences. The water leaked through the floor and cascaded down the elevator shaft before being noticed by library personnel around 9:15 a.m.

According to public service librarian Deborah Bruser, the library was closed soon after, and doors remained shut until Monday morning.

"It started in the children's area," said Bruser. "We heard a drip and then the sound of rushing water. Before we knew it we had to put garbage cans underneath."

Mall workers replaced about 40 ceiling tiles in the library and steam-cleaned the entire carpet after the spill.

But the library escaped fairly unscathed in comparison to affected residences.

"Damage to the library is negligible," said Centre Square general manager Jennifer Marchant. "The real brunt of the damage is in the condominium residence. There was damage to drywall, furniture, carpeting, countertops and hardwood flooring."

Between Northern Heights' and homeowners' insurance, most of the cleanup bill should be paid for save the cost of personal deductibles, said Marchant.

"We occasionally get a small water leak where a pipe starts to drip a little bit, but this is the first one that I've seen that has had this extensive damage," said Marchant.

She added that Northern Heights residents have been advised to check their own hoses for signs of wear.