[ECO]How Wastewater Grit Removal Protects Critical Plant Infrastructure

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How Wastewater Grit Removal Protects Critical Plant Infrastructure

Wastewater treatment plants play a vital role in any community by receiving, treating and then discharging cleaned water back into the environment. But while this process may sound simple, it has complexities and challenges. One of the biggest challenges that wastewater treatment facilities have to manage is the capturing and removal of grit.

In this piece, we’ll take a closer look at what grit is, the harm it can do to a wastewater treatment system and why it’s important to have the right removal and disposal measures in place. Read on to learn more about how wastewater grit removal helps protect and preserve a treatment plant’s critical infrastructure.

Grit Removal: What to Know

Wastewater grit is any solid particle that enters the wastewater system. This often includes the likes of sand, gravel, organic material (i.e., egg shells, coffee grain, seeds, etc.) and more – largely derived from household activities, storm runoff, industrial processes and other types of activities.

Wastewater treatment plants have to consider grit in their treatment process, as ******** to do so can impact the overall effectiveness of the process. This can be challenging in a few ways. One, grit tends to vary in size from 140 microns up to 300 microns. And two, grit often settles at the bottom of tanks and can build up into sludge over time.

How Grit is Removed

As you can tell, it’s important to remove grit from the wastewater system. It can be effectively removed in a number of ways. One way is screening, and screens can be either coarse, fine or micro. Many treatment plants often use a combination of these types of grit removal solutions that remove particles of various sizes from the wastewater system before it has a chance to enter it. Grit can then be taken out of the system and disposed of in landfills. Still, even with screening, some grit is likely to enter the system.

Grit chambers are also designed to capture grit and allow for easy removal. Depending on the type of grit that accumulates in the grit chamber, it may be removed via conveyors or elevators. Following removal from the grit chamber, it’s common to wash the grit to make disposal more manageable. Vacuum tanks are another effective solution for grit removal.

Benefits of Grit Removal

We already discussed some of the benefits of effective grit removal, but these – and others – are worth covering again. Hence, some of the key benefits of grit removal in stormwater management include:

• Maintaining proper flow rates throughout the wastewater treatment process.
• Grit can damage important wastewater infrastructure, including pipes, pumps and valves.
• Grit can be abrasive and create undue wear and tear on other key components.
• Grit removal can help reduce maintenance costs, as repairs can be upwards of several hundred thousand dollars due to grit-related damage.

How Grit Removal Protects Critical Infrastructure

One of the biggest reasons why proper grit removal is so important is for preserving critical wastewater infrastructure that’s so important to the overall effectiveness of the greater system. The presence of grit can impede proper flow rates, which affects the greater system. But arguably just as big of an issue that can be caused by grit buildup is costly damage to the wastewater infrastructure.

Grit in the system can clog pipes, pumps and valves. Grit also tends to be abrasive, which can lead to more damage and accelerated wear and tear on downstream parts, thereby impacting the overall process. Keep in mind that grit tends to be heavier than other types of solids, which can help accelerate this wear and tear.

Issues that stem from grit buildup can require more maintenance, repair and cleaning of the wastewater system. This can lead to unplanned downtime and issues with how effectively the system operates as a whole. It’s all a big part of the reason why grit removal is so important, especially as it relates to wastewater plant infrastructure.

The Value of Working with a Wastewater Solutions Provider

Need help managing the grit in your wastewater treatment plant? That’s where a solutions provider can come in handy. A good

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will take the time to understand your system and its challenges – and then implement the right measures to help it operate more effectively and efficiently. If you’re struggling with how to manage grit accumulation in your system or need help with any other challenge, consider reaching out to a qualified solutions partner today.

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