A 250 metre “monster” mass of fat, wet wipes, nappies and oil is being removed from a Victorian sewer in east London.
Weighing in at an eye-watering 130 tonnes, or 11 double-decker buses, Thames Water engineers will work for three weeks to scrape out the solid fatberg which has been described as one of the largest ever seen in the capital.
But a dedicated team of eight engineers have started the painstaking extraction process in Whitechapel Road, and aim to remove up to 30 tonnes per shift using “high-powered jet hoses” and tankers.
“It’s basically like trying to break up concrete.
“It’s frustrating as these situations are totally avoidable and caused by fat, oil and grease being washed down sinks and wipes flushed down the loo.”
The mess will eventually be disposed of at a recycling site in Stratford, east London.
Understandably, some Twitter users just Could. Not. Even.
— Rosh (@RoshalPatel) September 12, 2017
*pops her toastie into the bin and decides to skip lunch* pic.twitter.com/rahwkshrcD
— Welsh Royal Crystal (@WelshRoyalCryst) September 12, 2017
me: yeah, living in london is amazing. just so much opportunity, so much going onlondon: pic.twitter.com/LFwhnDpSk6
— Emily Reynolds (@rey_z) September 12, 2017
— Jordan ⛄️☃️⛄️ (@odditySpaceman) September 12, 2017
I could have lived my entire life without ever hearing the word “fatberg.”
— Camille Barden (@karmacamilleon1) September 12, 2017
While others had different theories about the monstrosity.
Has anyone seen my fatberg? Can’t find it anywhere.
— Neil Claxton (@MintRoyale) September 12, 2017
I see a London ‘fatberg’ reported every few months. The same one, travelling, or a community of bergs perhaps
— Cultural Atoms (@FrancisRHardy) September 12, 2017
They should try just poking it, might walk away on its own… #fatberg
— Lara Dantas (@larapnto) September 12, 2017
The utility company launched a “bin it, don’t block it” campaign on Monday to encourage households to properly dispose of items which contribute to blockages such as nappies, wet wipes and condoms.
How to avoid a foul flood with a little common sense. (Protect your home AND help fight a #fatberg). #FatTrap https://t.co/5mBBqtVTEk
— Thames Water (@thameswater) September 12, 2017
The firm, which serves London and the Thames Valley, says it spends around £1 million each month to clear blocked sewers.
The discovery dwarfs the “bus-sized” fatberg uncovered in Kingston in 2013 which tipped the scales at 15 tonnes.
