How to choose exact size of filter to be used for drip irrigation?

Irrigation systems water filtration

Water filtration is very important to almost any irrigation system. Appropriate filtration can help to extend the life and improve the maintenance of any irrigation system. For drip or micro sprinklers emitters, filtration is a basic need to avoid clogging. A sand grain, rust and other materials can block micro and mini and sprinklers’ nozzles which could cause unintentional plants dehydration. Many water sources like reservoirs, rivers and of course waste water contain a lot of organic materials such as alga and bacteria, that have to be removed especially from drip irrigation, mist spray [Nebulization] and micro-sprinkle systems, as small as they are. Not removing those substances can lead to creation of dirt accumulations and colonies of harmful material within the emitters and the rest of the equipment. Naturally, rust and sand grains are a safe platform for coating by organic materials and creating large chunks within the systems, causing a total blockage of water transferring.

Now the question arises which filter should be used and when? How to select the exact size of filter needed? What are the criteria of selection of filter size? Etc.

For a fun lets go through an example, a story of famous scientist Sir. Isaak Newton. He had two cats one was big and another was small. Every time when they wanted to go outside he had to open the door. After some days he got an idea and drill two holes with a flap on it, one for big and another one for small. The ethic behind this story is that he could drill a single hole for the both cats the big one. But he drilled two holes.

Same is the matter when we are going to decide the size of the filter. We should always choose bigger capacity filter nor the smaller one. Because the small capacity filters will not serve the purpose of filtration.

1) For 2’’ pipeline we have to go for 2’’ or more sized filter.
2) For 2.5’’ pipeline we have to choose 2.5’’ or 3’’ filter. 2’’ filter will not serve the purpose in this case as it is of smaller capacity.
3) For 3’’ pipeline we have to choose only 3’’ filter and the smaller sized one.

Therefore the thumb rule for selection of filter size is that always select high capacity filters for drip irrigation.

Again the question arises that whether the capacity of motor does not play any role in the selection of filter size? But we have enough knowledge about what size of pipe we should use according to the HP of the motor. Therefore it is advised to select filter according to the size of your pipeline.

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