Question
Hello, we've recently installed a Rainbird irrigation system for our yard. We pump the water directly out of a canal. The water is what you'd call 'dirty'...fine silt plus quite a bit of organic matter. We are using a #30 screen filter and only get about 15-20 minutes worth until it's plugged. Recently, I've heard of a fairly large screen filter manufactured by Spears that only needs to be cleaned every couple of weeks. Do you know where this can be purchased and/or do you have any other suggestions on how we can better filtrate the dirty water? THNX!!!

Answer
Thanks for your question.
There are a number of filter manufacturers making medium to large filters. The problem is, they cost much more. Sometimes into the $1000's.
A 30 mesh filter is a little too fine. You could go to a 20-22 mesh and everything would work fine. This will allow a little of the debris to pass and flow out through the sprinklers.
I've used a filter called a "guzzler" with some success in dirty water situation. It is manufactured by Bigfoot manufacturing, Inc.
It is a 8" pipe with holes in it, then there is a 2" pipe inside it with holes. Between the 2 pipe you fill it with a pea sized stone. The stone acts as the filter and works similar to a stream bottom. It catches the larger particle and passes the smaller.
John Deere Landscape is a national distributor for irrigation equipment and does sell Bigfoot products. The model # of the item is a 40G Guzzler. If you can't find John Deere, reply back with your City and State and I'll locate a distributor for you.

Matt