Kent residents warned to stop “festive fatbergs” after Christmas
Thames Water highlights dangers of grease and wipes blocking sewers
Thames Water is urging residents across Kent to dispose of fats, oils, greases, and waste carefully this Christmas, following the discovery of a 100-tonne fatberg in the sewers of east London.
The fatberg, believed to be 100 metres long, illustrates the environmental hazards and financial costs caused by improper disposal habits.
Tim Davies, head of waste operations for North London at Thames Water, said removing the massive blockage “could take weeks to complete.”
“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,” he explained.
Thames Water estimates the cost of clearing blockages and repairing sewers annually exceeds £40 million, with 74,000 blockages on record last year.
Festive season a high-risk period
Thames Water sees a seasonal spike in sewer blockages during December and January, spending £2.1 million clearing fats, oils, wipes, and Christmas meal leftovers.
Tess Fayers, Director of Wastewater and Bioresources at Thames Water, said, “The last thing we want is for the festive season to be ruined by blocked drains. Simple steps like binning grease from Christmas meals can help protect homes and stop fatbergs from forming.”
Top tips to starve fatbergs this Christmas
Thames Water has provided a list of simple steps Kent residents can follow to help reduce blockages in sewers and protect the environment:
- Fit plughole strainers to catch scraps.
- Scrape leftover fats, oils, and food waste into bins or food waste caddies rather than down the sink.
- Dispose of liquid foods like gravy, cream, and soup responsibly to avoid drains congealing.
- Do not flush wipes, cotton buds, or paper towels—only flush Pee, Poo, and toilet Paper.
- Cool hot oil leftovers and bin them or take them to a local recycling centre.
While awareness campaigns have highlighted the consequences of poor disposal habits, Thames Water’s research found that a quarter of respondents still wrongly believe disposable wet wipes are safe to flush, further fueling waste blockages.
Tess Fayers added, “These habits have environmental risks and cost money—simple changes can protect homes and the environment.”
For more information about protecting your pipes and the environment, visit Thames Water’s ‘Bin it – Don’t Block it’ page.