A monstrous 100-tonne fatberg has been discovered taking over the sewers beneath east London, prompting urgent warnings from Thames Water as the festive season approaches.
A Festive Sewer Nightmare
The colossal blockage, weighing approximately 100 tonnes and stretching 100 metres, was found in the Whitechapel area. Thames Water has directly linked its growth to common Christmas habits, specifically urging the public to avoid pouring unclaimed gravy and other liquid fats down kitchen sinks. This discovery comes just two months after the water company cleared a similar 100-tonne mass in Feltham, west London.
The Costly Legacy of Fatbergs
This new fatberg has been dubbed the ‘grandchild’ of a legendary 130-tonne, 250-metre mass found in Whitechapel in 2017, part of which was exhibited in the Museum of London. Despite its smaller size, the current blockage remains a gigantic issue, with a mass equivalent to eight double-decker buses.
Tim Davies, head of waste operations at Thames Water, stated that extraction could take ‘weeks to complete’. He emphasised the severe impact of improper disposal: ‘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.’
The financial burden is substantial. Thames Water spends £18 million annually on clearing blockages and removes a staggering 3.8 billion wet wipes. During the festive months of December and January alone, clearance costs can reach £2.1 million, with the company noting a significant rise in incidents.
How to Prevent Future Blockages
Ahead of Christmas 2025, Thames Water is imploring households to change their habits to protect the sewer network and avoid internal flooding and environmental harm. Key advice includes:
- Scraping all food scraps from plates into the bin before washing.
- Ensuring all plugholes are fitted with a strainer.
- Avoiding pouring any liquid foods like gravy, meat juices, or custard down the sink.
- Never flushing wipes, nappies, or sanitary products.
A recent survey highlighted the scale of the problem, revealing that over 40% of people have poured meat juices down the sink, 39% have disposed of gravy this way, and significant percentages admit to pouring cream, custard, and even hummus.
The message from Thames Water is clear: what goes down the drain doesn't vanish. It contributes to costly, disruptive, and entirely preventable sewer monsters that lurk beneath the capital's streets.
