‘Massive and disgusting’ 10-tonne fatberg cleared from London sewer

Thames Water urges people to be careful about which items they flush down toilets

The massive blockage weighted 10 tonnes  (PA)

A fatberg weighing "more than an African elephant" has been cleared from a sewer in central London.

Thames Water engineers dealt with the "massive and disgusting" 10-tonne clump of grease-laden “unflushable” items, such as wet wipes, by breaking up it with high-powered water jets.

The blockage was found under beneath Cadogan Place in Belgravia.

Engineers had to cut through 300 metres of fat and grease to reach the 30m blockage, which the water company said weighed "more than an African elephant". They used small tools and even their hands to clear the fatberg.

Matt Rimmer, Thames Water's head of waste networks, said: "This was a massive and disgusting fatberg that took a great deal of effort and teamwork to clear. 

"It was set hard and had to be destroyed to get the sewer flowing well again."

Fatbergs form when oil and grease are poured down drains, and then mix with “unflushable” products such as wet wipes, cotton buds and nappies. If left, they can lead to sewage flooding out into homes and the environment.

Mr Rimmer said engineers were able to dispose of the blockage before it created “serious problems”, but asked people to be careful about which items they flush down toilets and pour down sinks. 

He said: "Many items like wet wipes have plastic in them and won't break down in the sewers, even if they say they're flushable. 

"We'd urge everyone to help fight the fatberg by only flushing the three Ps – pee, poo and paper – as well as disposing of fat and oils in the bin, not the sink."

In 2019, Thames Water cleared fatbergs weighing a total of 140 tonnes from Greenwich, Pall Mall and the Shard.