100-tonne fatberg discovered in east London sewer | London
A “fat mountain” weighing around 100 tonnes has been found blocking drains in east London, officials said.
The frozen mass of solids, liquid and grease is approximately 100 meters long (328 ft) and is a third heavier than the British army’s heaviest battle tanks. It was named the grandson of the 2017 Whitechapel fatberg, which weighed 130 tonnes and stretched more than 250 meters (820 ft).
“These latest fat mountains show exactly what happens when fats, oils and wipes go down the drain – they don’t disappear, they build up and cause serious damage,” said Tim Davies, head of waste operations at Thames Water, north London.
“The cost of clearing blockages and repairing drains runs into tens of millions of pounds each year, and this money ultimately comes from our customers.”
The latest grease mountain in the Whitechapel area of the capital has led Thames Water to urge people to think carefully about what they pour down sinks and flushers over the festive period.
The company reports a seasonal increase in the number of blockages in December and January and says clearing costs reached £2.1 million during this period. He urged people to scrape food debris from dirty dishes, make sure tap holes are fitted with a strainer and avoid pouring liquid foods such as sauces or creams down the sink.
The fatberg in 2017 was the largest discovered in the capital. In fact, an example broken by workers was exhibited in the Museum of London.
Speaking at the time, Thames Water’s head of waste networks, Matt Rimmer, said: “It’s basically like trying to break concrete. It’s frustrating because these situations are completely preventable and are caused by oil, oil and grease running down sinks and wipes flushed down the toilet.”
