15-Ton 'Lump Of Lard' Removed From London Sewer

[Nutso]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/201 ... n=20130806

Set this post aside until after lunch if you have a sensitive stomach.

A " 'bus-sized lump' of food fat mixed with wet wipes" has been removed from a southwest London sewer, .

The 15-ton behemoth was the largest "congealed lump of lard" ever found in the Thames Water sewage system, supervisor Gordon Hailwood . Nearby residents were reporting that their toilets wouldn't flush because the system was so clogged. It took three weeks to hack the monster into pieces and haul them away in "heavy duty lorries," .

Though the news of the fatberg broke in the U.K. last week, it's just reaching our shores (the news, that is, not the fatberg) this week. We wanted to pass the story along because ... well, because it's so weird. But, also, because there's something to be learned (yeah, that's the ticket):

"The sewer was almost completely clogged with over 15 tons of fat," Hailwood says. "If we hadn't discovered it in time, raw sewage could have started spurting out of manholes across the whole of Kingston.

"It was so big it damaged the sewer and repairs will take up to six weeks.

"Homes and businesses need to change their ways, when it comes to fat and wipes, please remember: 'Bin it — don't block it.' "

We also want to note that from inside the sewer. Here's one time our standard warning really rings true: Think before you click "play" about whether you really want to see what was down there.

And Video

[McAvoy]

I wonder if this is just a slow day or a poor sewer design or something. I doubt there is nothing special about that place for 15 tons to accumulate. I bet there are plenty of places with tons of fat in sewers.

[Graham Kennedy]

Apparently it's a big problem in areas with a lot of restaurants, because they tend to dispose of fat by just pouring it down the sink.

[Jim]

Surprised that this did not happen un America...

[McAvoy]

Surprised that this did not happen un America...

That is what I was thinking.

[Nutso]

Surprised that this did not happen un America...

We in the USA have more to offer than lard-based cooking.

[McAvoy]

Surprised that this did not happen un America...

We in the USA have more to offer than lard-based cooking.

Cooking oil? Maybe olive oil if you got the money?

Technically the US eats pretty unhealthy. Think about throughout history the amount of meat was in a single dish and now. We now eat a pound or more in a single meal. We order that 24oz Prime Rib with a giant potato and an all you can eat salad buffet. If you are like me then you do not even make that salad healthy. Its three pounds of lettuce, tomato, and bleu cheese dressing.

So yeah I wonder how the American sewers differ.

Perhaps that sewer is an old one?

[Captain Seafort]

Perhaps that sewer is an old one?

It's in London - the system was designed and built to be state of the art and with massive overcapacity.

Unfortunately that was about a century and a half ago.

[McAvoy]

Perhaps that sewer is an old one?

It's in London - the system was designed and built to be state of the art and with massive overcapacity.

Unfortunately that was about a century and a half ago.

So... somewhat old. Or new if you compare it to Rome's.

[Jim]

I find it odd that it is all stuck to the roof of the "pipe". That pipe must usually be nearly totally filled with water. Overtaxed system...