Summary
A 100-tonne "fatberg," a large mass of waste including wet wipes and grease, was removed from a sewer in west London by Thames Water. The removal took more than a month and involved a complex operation due to the fatberg's massive size and depth underground. Thames Water is urging people not to flush wet wipes to prevent future blockages.
Key Facts
- A "fatberg" weighing 100 tonnes was removed from a sewer in west London.
- The fatberg's weight was compared to eight double-decker buses.
- It consisted mainly of wet wipes, fat, oil, and grease.
- Thames Water took over a month to clear the blockage.
- The removal involved accessing deeply buried pipes with special equipment.
- Thames Water clears about 75,000 blockages annually, many caused by wet wipes.
- The utility company spends £18 million annually on operations to clear blockages.
- Thames Water advises against flushing wet wipes to prevent blockages.
