Fatberg the ‘size of a small bungalow’ removed from London sewer

A “enormous, disgusting” fatberg has the load of a small bungalow has been faraway from a London sewer.

Members of the general public have been urged to be “cautious what they flush” following the two-week removing operation for the foul-smelling mass from a conduit in Canary Wharf.

Thames Water engineers and MTS Cleaning Providers used high-powered water jets and hand instruments to chip away on the rock-like heap – which is claimed to have smelled like composting competition bogs and rotten meat.

Fatbergs are fashioned when oil, grease and fats poured down drains mix with non-biodegradable gadgets akin to moist wipes, nappies and cotton buds.

The rock-like mass took two weeks to take away (Thames Water)

Positioned below Yabsley Road, the Canary Wharf fatberg was clogging lengthy sections of the sewer and Thames Water mentioned it might have led to sewage spilling into properties and the atmosphere if it had grown any additional.

“This was an enormous, disgusting fatberg that took an excessive amount of brute power and teamwork to clear,” mentioned Matt Rimmer, Thames Water’s head of waste networks.

“Our sensible engineers had been in a position to clear the massive blockage earlier than it brought about severe issues, negotiating difficult and cramped working circumstances alongside the way in which.

“We’d ask everybody to assist battle the fatberg by solely flushing the 3Ps – pee, poo and paper – in addition to disposing of fats and oils within the bin, not the sink.”

1b752646 c3d5 4709 984b 37b5bdf239edThames Water took earlier than and after photos of the spot the place the fatberg was situated (Thames Water)

The fatberg is the most recent in a sequence to have been eliminated in recent times, with one other equated to an African elephant eliminated in October 2020.

In 2019, Thames Water 140 tonnes-worth of fatbergs from the drains of Greenwich, Pall Mall and the Shard.

Thames Water spends £18 million annually clearing 75,000 blockages from sewers in London and the Thames Valley.

Its “Bin it – don’t block it” marketing campaign urges clients to think about what can and can’t be flushed down their bogs.

cddf0610 484e 4995 ac41 4152747f2fa3The fatberg is the most recent in a sequence eliminated by Thames Water in recent times (Thames Water)

Chris Henderson, gross sales director at MTS Cleaning Providers, mentioned: “Our skilled confined area entry group, confronted with a variety of potential hazards, achieved nice leads to troublesome circumstances.

“MTS labored tirelessly from the strategy planning stage to completion alongside Thames Water and we’re delighted with the outcome.”

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