Ice blockage disrupts water supply for thousands of homes

Thousands have been left without water across Inverclyde due to a blockage of ice at a reservoir.

Scottish Water divers are working to clear ice blocking the intake at Loch Thom while bottled water is being distributed by “drive through” at Battery Park Car Park, Eldon Street.

Tankers are bringing in extra drinking water to maintain supply to the network and water is being distributed to customers on Scottish Water’s Priority Service Register, who may be vulnerable if their supply is interrupted.

Engineers reconfigured the network to supply stored drinking water to most of the customers in the area but this ran out.

The ongoing disruption is expected to impact 13,000 homes and businesses in Greenock, Gourock, Inverkip, Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie.

https://twitter.com/scottish_water/status/1360604309373792258

A spokesperson for Scottish Water said: “Our team has been working over the course of the day in challenging conditions to restore normal production of drinking water at Greenock Water Treatment Works. Efforts are continuing with divers working to clear the intake from Loch Thom.

“With reserves of stored water in the network diminished, we expect some customers will experience disruption to their supply. We are putting plans in place to provide alternative water supplies and support for customers in the area, should they lose supply.

“We would like to apologise to customers for the inconvenience that this will cause. We are working to restore normal service as quickly as possible and to provide support for affected customers in the meantime.”

More than 52,000 residents in Glasgow were left without water after a trunk main burst on Saturday.

The 36 inch water pipe burst close to Bearsden Road in Anniesland, resulting in significant flooding of surrounding roads.