Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. We're not exaggerating when we say that the future of the Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter is under threat.
Please consider supporting the Reporter in whatever way you can – by paying just 85p for a copy of the paper, when you're shopping for essential supplies for yourself and others, or by subscribing to our e-edition here.
Thanks – and stay safe.
...............................

SCOTTISH Water engineers have been using WhatsApp to avoid the need for home visits during the coronavirus pandemic.

Customers who are reporting tap water issues have been receiving virtual inspections via video call, instead of face-to-face visits, as the company work to resolve issues while maintaining social distancing guidelines.

It means customers who are self-isolating can also receive help if needed, reducing the risk of contamination of customers and staff, as there is no face-to-face contact.

Sarah Prescott, Scottish Water’s Field Response business manager, said: “Since the coronavirus outbreak, our Field Response team have started contacting customers through WhatsApp video calls to reduce the amount of face-to-face interactions we have with customers.

READ MORE: Free helpline will answer your coronavirus questions

“So far, about 15 per cent of the hundreds of jobs that would have involved visits to customers’ properties over the past couple of weeks have been resolved via WhatsApp, including video calls, so this has led to a considerable reduction in the number of visits we make to people’s homes.

“We’ve been able to implement this quickly and the feedback from customers has been good because in many cases we have been able to resolve issues which have been causing them inconvenience at a time when they are self-isolating.

"In those circumstances, customers have enough to contend with without an issue with their water, so we are delighted to be able to use social media to help them.

“Scottish Water takes its customer service very seriously and strives to maintain the same high standard of service at all times, including during the current crisis.

"Using WhatsApp is another way of enabling us to do so while protecting the health and wellbeing of customers and our staff.”