RANKIN INLET - A catastrophe was narrowly averted in Rankin Inlet this past week after vandals came close to contaminating the community's water supply.

The vandals destroyed an intake valve at the pump station near Nipissar Lake, which resulted in an as of yet unknown quantity of diesel fuel being spilled into the ground.

Community and Government Services assistant deputy minister Shawn Maley and regional director Ralph Ruediger, right, survey the damage caused by vandals at the Nipissar Lake pump station in Rankin Inlet this past week. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

Community and Government Services (C&GS) assistant deputy minister Shawn Maley said a department worker found the damage early in the morning on June 30 while making a regular inspection stop at the station.

He said a clean-up crew was immediately dispatched to keep the diesel from contaminating the community's water supply.

"This is a case of senseless vandalism that's going to cost at least $100,000 when you look at the cost of the consultant, the repairs involved, wages paid for the hours put in by the clean-up crew, gravel that has to be replaced and material used to absorb the fuel that also has to be replaced," said Maley.

"We're still not sure of the exact amount spilled, but, right now, we're going through the last meter reading from the fuel truck to figure out what they put in, and then we'll cross-reference that with consumption from previous months to find out how much fuel was in there.

"At this point it looks like a mild spill, but being that close to the water supply, it's a very, very serious situation.

"The contamination was relatively minor, but there was definitely some seepage into the lake."

An on-shore wind was prevalent during the 24-hour period following the vandalism, which helped keep the fuel that leaked into the lake along the shoreline.

That stroke of luck made it easier for the clean-up crew to contain the fuel.

C&GS regional director Ralph Ruediger said the fuel was collected, soil excavated from the site of the spill, and an expert flown in to assess the damage and recommend any further action required.

"Those responsible for this lit a fire at the back of the pump house and although the fire didn't cause any major damage, it was hot enough to char or discolour part of the building," said Ruediger.

"There was at least one shotgun shell there with the gunpowder missing, so it looks like they used that to start the fire.

"When you turn on your tap at home that's where the water comes from, so the station is about as important as you can get when it comes to Rankin's water supply.

"We got lucky here because the fuel contamination in the water was minimal, but if it had gone the other way, we would have been dealing with a very, very serious situation."

The Rankin detachment of the RCMP is asking the public to come forward with any information regarding the vandalism of the Nipissar Lake pump station.