Compact equipment is being introduced to tackle a major problem beneath the streets.

Thames Water has launched innovative 10-centimetre drainage clearance devices nicknamed baby hedgehogs to clear blockages caused by wet wipes in narrower pipework.

These tools are a reduced-size version of the utility firm’s current 15-centimetre spiky hedgehog-shaped apparatus and have been specifically designed to reach more restricted sections of the sewer network.

Alex Dudfield, who manages pollution reduction at Thames Water, explained that even the smallest equipment can produce meaningful enhancements to their infrastructure.

These miniature hedgehogs allow them to access parts of the drainage network that were previously difficult to treat.

They help pinpoint where wipe accumulation originates, enabling engagement with the relevant parties and preventing obstructions before they develop into serious problems.

By tackling wipes at their source, the company is protecting homes, the natural environment, and the wider network.

These smaller devices extract wipes and debris before they develop into major blockages, helping to prevent basement and household flooding while reducing pressure on the entire system.

Wet wipes remain one of the leading causes of drainage blockages, resulting in property damage and surface flooding, with yearly expenses reaching approximately £40 million.

Since the start of this year, Thames Water has dealt with more than 18,000 blockages, working out to over 200 each day on average.

The company continues to urge householders to flush only the three Ps – urine, faeces, and toilet paper – and to place wet wipes in waste bins to avoid fatberg formation and sewer blockages.