Engineers take three weeks to clear ‘disgusting’ 40-tonne fatberg

Engineers take three weeks to clear ‘disgusting’ 40-tonne fatberg the size of a double-decker bus from London sewer

  • Thames Water engineers removed a 40-tonne fatberg from a London sewer
  • It took three weeks for Thames Water workers to clear the ‘disgusting’ blockage 
  • Fatbergs are formed when fat, oil and grease are poured down sinks and drains 

A disgusting 40-tonne fatberg the size of a double-decker bus has been cleared from a London sewer by Thames Water engineers who pulled out some of it by hand.

The mass of fat, grease and other materials that weighed the same as three double-decker buses, was discovered earlier this year clogging up a sewer in Greenwich, the water company said.

It took three weeks for Thames Water workers to clear the ‘disgusting’ blockage which at points took up 80 percent of the sewer’s capacity, using a combination of high-powered water jets to blast it loose and removing debris by hand.

The mass of fat, grease and other waste that weighed the same as three double-decker buses, was discovered earlier this year clogging up a sewer in Greenwich, the water company said

It took three weeks for Thames Water workers to clear the 'disgusting' blockage which at points took up 80 percent of the sewer's capacity+

It took three weeks for Thames Water workers to clear the 'disgusting' blockage which at points took up 80 percent of the sewer's capacity+

It took three weeks for Thames Water workers to clear the ‘disgusting’ blockage which at points took up 80 percent of the sewer’s capacity, using a combination of high-powered water jets to blast it loose and removing debris by hand

Fatbergs are formed when fat, oil and grease are poured down sinks and drains and combine with items that should not be flushed down the toilet, such as unflushable wet wipes, nappies and cotton buds.

Thames Water’s network protection team has been visiting food establishments in the area, to make sure they are not putting fat, grease and oil down their sinks and that fat traps are installed and working.

Matt Rimmer, Thames Water’s head of waste networks, said: ‘This was a massive and disgusting blockage that took a great deal of effort and teamwork to clear and get the sewer working well again.

‘I’m happy that our team was able to get down and work hard to quickly to clear the fatberg before it could cause problems for our customers and the environment.

‘We’d urge everyone to help fight the fatberg by only flushing the 3Ps, pee, poo and paper, as well as disposing of fat and oils in the bin, not the sink.’

GROWING PROBLEM: HOW GIANT FATBERGS OF WASTE ARE COSTING THE PUBLIC MILLIONS OF POUNDS TO CLEAR 

Fatbergs – congealed fat which clumps together with other waste products to form concrete-style blocks – are becoming increasingly problematic in sewers across the UK, particularly in London.

The capital’s largest ever recorded fatberg, weighing in at 15 tonnes, was found in Kingston in August 2013.

And in 2015 workers spent four days removing a fatberg the length of a jumbo jet from a sewer in Shepherd’s Bush.

In 2017, Thames Water used high-powered jet hoses to try to break up a fatberg in the sewers beneath London’s Chinatown.

 This unwholesome fatberg was made up of congealed wet wipes, nappies, fat, oil and other waste and was stuck in a sewer built almost 200 years ago.

The sewer it was blocking was built in 1852. The mass of waste was then enough to produce 10,000 litres of biodiesel, which could power 350 double decker buses for a whole day. 

Among the most common causes of drain blockages are make-up and nappy wipes, fat and grease, chewing gum, dental floss, plasters and building debris. 

Staff from Thames Water usually use powerful suction equipment to break down the blockages and then high-powered water jets to clear the tunnels.

The company spends approximately £1million a month clearing fatbergs and blockages, dealing with 55,000 of them every year. It is a similar story for other water companies across the UK.

The latest fatberg was found in a sewer built in 1852 (pictured) under London's Chinatown located near Leicester Square

The latest fatberg was found in a sewer built in 1852 (pictured) under London’s Chinatown located near Leicester Square

Fatberg

Fatberg

The fatberg found in London’s Whitechapel was only a third gone from the sewer it was found in

Fatbergs (pictured) are made up of congealed condoms, wet wipes, nappies, fat, oil and other sanitary products that get stuck in the sewage system 

Fatbergs (pictured) are made up of congealed condoms, wet wipes, nappies, fat, oil and other sanitary products that get stuck in the sewage system 

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