ALMOST 15,000 homes and business in Inverclyde are set to be hit with disruption to their water supplies today after ice blocked the intake from Loch Thom.

Scottish Water has just announced that '13,000 homes and businesses will be affected this afternoon in Greenock, Gourock, Inverkip, Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie'.

They have sent out engineers to restore water production at Greenock Water Treatment Works after ice blocked the intake from Loch Thom, which supplies homes and business in the area.

Divers have been deployed in the loch and are working to clear the submerged intakes of ice.

Alternative means of restoring water supply to the Water Treatment Works are also being investigated.

Engineers have 'reconfigured the water network' to reduce the area served by the Water Treatment Works to a minimum and the majority of customers will continue to be fed via stored drinking water from the local network - but reserves are short, so there will be disruption.

The issue is expected to impact upon supplies for approximately 13,000 homes and businesses this afternoon in Greenock, Gourock, Inverkip, Wemyss Bay and Skelmorlie.

Emergency plans are being put in place to provide alternative water supplies, including supplementing the local network via road tankers where possible.

Scottish Water say that support will also be provided for customers in the affected communities, prioritising those who may be vulnerable if their water supply is interrupted.

A spokesperson 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.”

Regular updates on the situation and alternative water supply distribution arrangements will be provided at www.scottishwater.co.uk