Thames Water removes 100-tonne ‘fatberg’ clogging west London sewer
(UI) — A massive 100-tonne (90-ton) blockage has been removed from a sewer beneath Feltham in west London, according to a BBC report. The congealed mass — a so-called “fatberg” — was lodged more than 10 meters (33 feet) underground and took Thames Water engineers over a month to clear.
Weighing roughly the same as eight double-decker buses, the obstruction was made up of wet wipes bound together by cooking fat, oil, and grease. Crews accessed the pipe through a large manhole and used high-powered jets, chisels, and vacuum equipment to dislodge the 125-meter (410-foot)-long clog before lifting the debris into skips for disposal, as reported by the BBC.
The cleanup comes shortly after Thames Water partnered with Thames21 and the Port of London Authority to remove a buildup of wet wipes and sludge along the River Thames near Hammersmith Bridge. The company says it tackles an average of 75,000 blockages each year, costing about £18 million ($24 million), with the majority caused by wet wipes that don’t break down in water.
Thames Water continues to urge residents to flush only toilet paper and dispose of wipes, fats, and grease properly to prevent future sewer blockages.
Related News
From Archive
- Inside Sempra’s 72-mile pipeline with 18 major trenchless crossings
- Trump vetoes bill to finish $1.3 billion Colorado water pipeline
- PHMSA warns of heat risks in aging plastic gas distribution pipelines following deadly Pennsylvania explosion
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- OSHA seeks $1.2 million fine after fatal trench collapse in Connecticut
- Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- Infrastructure failure releases 100,000 gallons of wastewater in Houston; repairs ongoing
- Construction jobs stumble into 2026 after weak year
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
Comments