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Blog: Britain Removes Bus-Sized Lump of Fat From Sewer

Drain cleaning operators and municipal managers all have a story to tell about the out-of-the-ordinary objects recovered from pipelines and sewers, but what about removing a bus-sized lump of fat? That’s exactly what a Thames Water crew removed from a sewer recently in Surrey, England. The 15-ton lump of food fat and wet wipes has been dubbed the “fatberg” in a press release from the utility. It took three nights for an eight-man crew to clean up and remove the mound using shovels and waterjetting.  

Choosing Proper Nozzles for High-Pressure Waterjet Cleaning

Understanding nozzles and how they work is a key step to becoming a successful drain and pipeline cleaning operator. Knowing the proper use of each nozzle will ensure that you always make the right selection for each job. In order to understand nozzles, contractors must first understand the relationship between pressure and flow ratio. In general drain cleaning and debris removal, you want low pressure and high flow. As debris accumulates, you want sufficient flow to move the material down the line. 

Hydroexcavation and Conventional Digging Work Together

Working in sales and marketing for the largest fleet of hydroexcavators in Texas, Karl Lassberg doesn’t see conventional excavators as competition. “We’re really working in conjunction with mechanical equipment,” says Lassberg, of T-Rex Services Hydro Excavation and Industrial Vacuum Services. Besides the usual safe exposure of underground utilities, hydroexcavation has also grown more popular for many other uses, especially in confined areas.

The Smart Way to Lessen the Sting of Fuel Increases

The phrase “pain at the pump” has become almost a mantra for everyone in the 21st century, with gasoline and diesel prices seemingly jumping every week. And while many individual and combined factors impact gas prices, what really matters to contractors (whether they have a fleet of two or 22), is how to deal with rising costs. Ignoring these increases is foolish. Absorbing additional costs can be perilous, but passing along costs to customers can be risky.

Choosing the Best Water Jetter for Your Drain Cleaning Business

For those blockages that are just too tough to clear with a cable drain cleaning machine, the next best tool is a water jetter. “In the past, cable drain cleaning machines were all that was available,” says Marty Silverman, vice president of marketing for General Pipe Cleaners. “They do a great job of cutting roots and debris and retrieving objects out of the drainline, but they have always had a hard time with certain kinds of stoppages.”