grit chamber

In sanitation engineering, a grit chamber is a tank designed to slow down wastewater flow. This reduction in speed allows heavier inorganic solids, such as sand, coffee grounds, and eggshells, to settle out by gravity. These materials, collectively referred to as grit, can cause significant wear and tear on pumps and other equipment within a wastewater treatment plant. Grit removal is especially crucial in areas with combined sewer systems, where street runoff can carry substantial amounts of silt and sand into the system during storms. Grit chambers are a component of primary treatment, which aims to remove settleable and floatable materials from wastewater before further purification stages.1