Mass of congealed fat, oil and grease 100 metres in length found blocking sewers in Whitechapel area of capital
A “fatberg” weighing an estimated 100 tonnes has been discovered blocking sewers in east London, officials have said.
The mass of congealed fats, oils and grease measures about 100 metres long (328ft) and weighs about a third more than the heaviest of the British army’s battle tanks. It has been called the grandchild of the 2017 Whitechapel fatberg, which weighed 130 tonnes and stretched for more than 250 metres (820ft).
“This latest fatberg shows exactly what happens when fats, oils and wipes go down our drains – they don’t disappear, they build up and cause serious damage,” said Tim Davies, the head of waste operations for north London at Thames Water.
“The cost of clearing blockages and repairing sewers runs into tens of millions of pounds every year, and that money ultimately comes from our customers.”
