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The facts about fatbergs

  • A fatberg is a solid mass found in the underground sewer pipes formed by the combination of non-biodegradable products, such as wet wipes, and congealed cooking oil, fat or grease. They smell rancid and they're very difficult to break down and remove.

  • Fatbergs create blockages in the sewer network and prevent the flow of dirty wastewater or sewage to our treatment works. Unfortunately, fatbergs can cause sewer flooding in the streets, homes and gardens and pollution to the local environment. This is why we want to prevent fatbergs from forming in the first place.

  • When we find a fatberg, we have to break it down using high pressure water jets. The lumps of fatberg can then be removed from the sewer network and disposed of responsibly. Or sometimes we can move the fatberg through the sewers to our treatment works for safe disposal. Removing fatbergs and repairing any damage to the network of underground pipes is costly and can take a long time.

  • No. Fatbergs typically have to be disposed of at landfill sites due to the contamination with non-biodegradable products, such as wet wipes.

Help us fight the fatbergs!

Wet wipes and cooking oil and fats are the two key culprits that create fatbergs, can you help us to fight the fatbergs?

Toilet icon

Remember to only flush the 3Ps; Pee, Poo, (toilet) Paper.

Bin icon

Don't flush any toiletry products down the loo, eg wet wipes, cotton wool pads, ear buds. Put them in the bin instead.

Pour bin icon

Don't pour cooking oils, fats or grease down the kitchen sink. After cooking, allow it to cool and scrape into the bin.

Monster found in Liverpool sewer!

The North West's biggest ever fatberg has been discovered deep underground in a sewer in Liverpool.

Measuring a whopping 250 metres, this sewer monster is formed from a congealed mass of fats, grease, oil, wet wipes, sanitary products, and other products that shouldn’t have been poured down the sink or flushed down the loo.

Stop the Block!

​Find out more about what you can and can’t put down the drains to stop fatbergs from forming.

Click the button below for more details

Find out more

Important Notice

Cold Weather

Due to the freezing weather conditions across the region a number of our customers are experiencing no water or reduced pressure, caused by frozen pipes in their home. There are a few things you can do to check if you have frozen pipes. If you are unable to complete these checks please reach out to your family, friends or neighbours to see if they can help:

  1. If there are no local issues check with your neighbours. If they have water, you may have a frozen pipe in your property.
  2. Here’s what to do. Turn off your stop tap by turning it clockwise, it’s usually found under your kitchen sink, but can be in your garage or cellar.
  3. Once you’ve turned your stop tap off, turn on your cold tap in the kitchen
  4. If you have no water, this could be due to a frozen pipe somewhere in your home. This may be the pipe which comes into your home near to where your stop tap is located.
  5. Carefully thaw the pipe using a warm towel, or if safe to do so a hairdryer in short bursts, ensuring you keep well away from water. If you can get water from a neighbour you could try a hot water bottle too. This could take a while, depending on how frozen and big your pipes are.
  6. Switch your stop tap back on to see if the water is running.

You can find more information at www.unitedutilities.com/frozenpipes.

If you have followed all of the advice provided and still want to talk to us, please give us a call. As we are experiencing really high call volumes at the moment, please bear with us as wait times will be longer than usual. 

Due to the freezing weather conditions across the region a number of our customers are experiencing no water or reduced pressure, caused by frozen pipes in their home. For more help and advice if you have a frozen pipe head to www.unitedutilities.com/frozenpipes.

Cold Weather

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