How to choose irrigation filtration for your water source

Understand what is in the water

Borehole water may carry sand or other particles; surface water can contain silt, algae and organic debris; storage tanks can accumulate sediment. Water quality varies, so source labels alone do not determine the filter.

Where clogging or scaling is recurring, investigate the cause. Filtration removes suitable suspended material but does not automatically correct dissolved salts, chemical precipitation or biological growth.

Filter types and system checks

• Screen filters for suitable particulate loads and straightforward cleaning
• Disc filters where the contaminant profile and manufacturer guidance suit them
• Media filtration for certain higher organic loads, designed and maintained correctly
• Pre-filtration or multiple stages where source conditions require it
• Filter mesh or micron rating compatible with emitter specifications
• Flow capacity, pressure loss, cleaning method and maintenance access

Avoid these filtration mistakes

• Do not select a filter by connection size alone
• Do not use a finer rating without checking flow and pressure loss
• Do not ignore filter cleaning frequency or differential pressure
• Do not assume a filter solves dissolved mineral or chemical problems
• Do not bypass filtration to compensate for a blocked or undersized unit

Design filtration into the system

A filtration plan should identify the water source, expected contaminants, flow per zone, filter specification, installation location, flushing or cleaning arrangement and maintenance instructions. Water testing may be needed for difficult sources or fertigation projects.