The territorial government is rushing to clean up a 10,000 litre fuel spill in Baker Lake before it can contaminate the community's drinking water.
photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Details about the leak were only made public on April 21, nearly a month after it was first detected.
“With the season of warmer weather approaching, there is a risk of the spilled fuel contaminating the community's fresh water supply,” reads a public service announcement from the Department of Community and Government Services.
The announcement states that “remedial efforts to contain and treat contaminated snow and ice will begin in the coming days.”
The public service announcement was posted to the department's website on April 21, but was no longer accessible online as of the morning of April 22.
According to the announcement, the oil spill was detected outside Baker Lake's tank farm on March 29.
The announcement states the government believes the leak started on March 5, following the rupture of a drain valve on the pipeline.
“The investigation into how the fuel was released from the lined berm is still ongoing,” reads the statement.
The territorial government is warning the public to stay at least nine metres from the cordoned off area.
Kivalliq News has submitted questions to CGS. This story will be updated as soon as more information is available.