11-ton glob of fat and wet wipes destroys London sewer
Bring your umbrella!
Today an 11-ton glob of congealed fat, wet wipes, and other household waste burst through a 1940's-era sewer pipe in London to create a truly disgusting mess.
The congealed fat had built up over the course of many years, from households pouring fat down the drain instead of disposing of it properly. The wet wipes, however, have become an increasing problem for London's aging sewer system in recent years. Many people now use wet wipes in place of toilet paper. But since the wet wipes don't break down in water as easily, they can cause a bigger mess when they hit (for example) a giant blob of congealed fat.
The blob was padded out with other things that should not have been flushed but were, like diapers and paper towels. All in all, the "fatberg" was the size of a city bus, and cost the city over $600,000 USD in damages.