A large fatberg - a sewer blockage caused by an accumulation of fat, grease, and rags - led to the cancellation of Bryan Adams' scheduled concert in Perth, Australia, on public health grounds, reports The BBC.
The Grammy Award-winning artist was set to perform at the RAC Arena on Sunday, but authorities determined that a blocked main could cause venue toilets to back up, posing a health risk.
Adams took to social media to apologize to his fans—many of whom had queued for hours only to be turned away. He expressed gratitude for their "patience and support" and assured them that efforts would be made to reschedule the performance.
Concert promoter Frontier Touring called the cancellation "bitterly disappointing" and confirmed that ticketholders would receive full refunds. "While every effort was made for the show to proceed, this matter was beyond the control of Bryan Adams, Frontier Touring, and RAC Arena," the promoter stated in an official announcement.
Perth's water corporation revealed that the fatberg responsible for the disruption had already caused multiple wastewater overflows on the main road near the venue. Authorities urged the public to avoid contact with pooled water in the affected area. " Water Corporation apologises for the inconvenience this has caused and will provide further updates as required," the corporation stated on its website.
"I'm really sorry we couldn't make this happen tonight—I was so looking forward to seeing you all," Bryan Adams wrote on his facebook page. Despite the setback, the Canadian rock star is still scheduled to perform in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne later in the week.
The growing problem of fatbergs
Fatbergs, a global issue found in sewers worldwide, form when fat, oil, and grease solidify and combine with materials such as rags and wet wipes, leading to severe blockages and environmental hazards. Cities including New York, Denver, Melbourne, and Valencia have all reported giant fatbergs clogging their sewer systems in recent years. In London, a fatberg weighing the equivalent of three double-decker buses was removed from an east London sewer last year. In May 2024, another massive fatberg—nearly six feet tall and weighing as much as three double-decker buses—was successfully cleared from a wet well near the iconic Abbey Mills pumping station in East London. The removal process took several days due to its accumulation 35 meters underground.
Innovative solutions to combat fatbergs
Researchers at RMIT University developed a groundbreaking solution in 2024 to mitigate the formation of fatbergs in sewers. Engineers at the university invented a zinc-enhanced polyurethane protective coating for concrete pipes, which significantly reduces the release of calcium—a key contributor to fatberg formation. Fat, oil, and grease (FOG) account for nearly half of all sewer blockages in the United States and 40% in Australia, costing an estimated US$25 billion in maintenance and rehabilitation in the U.S. and A$100 million annually in Australia.
A study led by Dr. Biplob Pramanik simulated extreme sewer conditions over 30 days and demonstrated that the coating reduced the buildup of FOG by 30% compared to untreated concrete. "The reduction of fat, oil, and grease buildup can be attributed to the significantly reduced release of calcium from coated concrete, as well as less sticking of FOG on the coated surface compared to rough, uncoated concrete," explained Pramanik, Director of the Water: Effective Technologies and Tools (WETT) Research Centre at RMIT.
With fatbergs continuing to pose major environmental and infrastructure challenges worldwide, innovations like RMIT’s protective coating offer promising sustainable solutions to prevent future blockages.
