Final answer:
Grit needs to be removed before chemical treatments in wastewater because it can clog pipes and interfere with treatment processes. Grit settles out of the water in a grit chamber, but if it's not removed, it can accumulate and cause issues.
Step-by-step explanation:
Grit, such as sand or dirt, needs to be removed before chemical treatments in wastewater because it can clog pipes and cause issues in the treatment process. The grit settles out of the water in a grit chamber, but if it's not removed, it can accumulate and block pipes.
Aeration, which is the bubbling of air through the water, helps prevent smaller particles from settling out, but it doesn't remove the grit. Therefore, it's important to remove the grit first before any chemical treatments.
In addition to potentially clogging pipes, the presence of grit can also interfere with the effectiveness of chemical treatments in improving water quality, which is another reason why grit removal is necessary.