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Thames Water Introduces Small Sewer-Clearing Devices, ‘Baby Hedgehogs,’ to Address Wet Wipe Blockages

Thames Water introduced 10cm sewer-clearing devices nicknamed 'baby hedgehogs' to navigate narrow pipes and remove wet-wipe blockages, aiming to prevent household sewage flooding and reduce pressure on the wider sewer network.
Wet wipes remain a major cause of sewer blockages, contributing to property damage and road flooding, costing an estimated £40 million annually; unlike toilet paper, they do not break down in systems and form 'fatbergs.'
Pollution improvement manager Alex Dudfield said, 'even the smallest tools can make a huge difference to our network,' as Thames Water installed more than 20,000 sewer monitors across London and the Thames Valley.
So far this year, the company has cleared more than 18,000 blockages, averaging more than 200 per day, while these new tools supplement 15cm devices introduced in 2025 to tackle tighter sections of pipework.
The 'Bin It, Don't Block It' campaign continues to encourage residents to flush only the 'three Ps'—pee, poo, and toilet paper—in an effort to stop blockages at the source before they damage infrastructure.

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