A view of a “fatberg” inside a sewer in Whitechapel, London. British engineers say they have launched a “sewer war” against the giant blob of fat clogging London’s sewers. (Thames Water via AP)

A view of a “fatberg” inside a sewer in Whitechapel, London. British engineers say they have launched a “sewer war” against the giant blob of fat clogging London’s sewers. (Thames Water via AP)

UK engineers launch ‘sewer war’ against giant blob of fat

Associated Press

LONDON — British engineers say they have launched a “sewer war” against a giant blob of fat clogging London’s sewers.

Thames Water officials said Tuesday it is likely to take three weeks to dissolve the outsize “fatberg.”

They caution against expecting quick results as the fatberg is 250 yards long and weighs as much as 11 double-decker busses.

The unsavory blob consists of congealed wet wipes, diapers, fat and oil.

Thames Water’s Matt Rimmer says the fatberg is “a total monster and taking a lot of manpower and machinery to remove as it’s set hard.”

He said the task is “basically like trying to break up concrete.”

Eight workers are using high powered jet hoses to break up the blob before sucking it out into tankers for disposal at a recycling site.

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