Whale-Sized Fatberg in Oxford Sewer: How to Keep Grease Out of Drains

A fatberg described as the size of a blue whale (the largest animal ever known to have existed) has been removed from a large sewer beneath Oxford.

Thames Water confirmed that the colossal 120-tonne mass, stretching over 1km (0.6 miles), took its teams two weeks to clear from the trunk sewer, which sits 20 metres underground.

The “complex operation” involved breaking down and removing a congealed mass of fat, oil, grease (FOG), and wet wipes. High gas levels within the pipe, its depth underground, and the need to keep wastewater flowing to the city all made the removal more challenging.

An Expensive, Ongoing Problem

Thames Water said it has already cleared over 35,000 sewer blockages this year alone, with an annual total estimated at 75,000 blockages, costing the company around £18 million every year.

Jamie Whitmore from Thames Water described the Oxford fatberg as a “powerful reminder” for people to only flush the 3 Ps (pee, poo, and paper) to keep sewers flowing and reduce the risk of flooding, blockages, and pollution.

How the Right Kitchen Equipment Can Help Prevent Fatbergs

While public awareness plays a role, much of the fat and grease found in sewers comes from commercial kitchens. Restaurants, cafés, and other food businesses that don’t properly manage FOG allow it to enter drains, where it congeals and forms blockages like the Oxford fatberg.

Installing an Automatic Grease Removal Device (AGRD) can dramatically reduce this problem.

• FOG is automatically skimmed from wastewater every day and deposited into a separate container for easy collection.
• A built-in food filter stops food waste from entering the drains.
• This process prevents grease from travelling into the sewer system, reducing the risk of fatbergs, costly pipe blockages, and environmental damage.

By using AGRDs, commercial kitchens can not only protect the environment but also save money on drain maintenance and help keep our sewer systems flowing freely.

Grease Guardian GGX25 Automatic Grease Removal Device

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Grease Guardian is a leader in grease management technology, offering high-performance Automatic Grease Removal Devices for a variety of sectors, including hospitality, marine, and industrial. Learn more about our innovative solutions here

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