The research had as objective to show the variation of water quality and its influence in the head loss of two filtration systems (disc filter and non-woven synthetic fabrics) used in a dripper irrigation system. For a better comparison of the filters were used two water uniformity distribution index to estimate the obstructions of emitters and analyzed the main physical, chemical and biological parameters of the irrigation water causing problem of obstruction in drippers during of the period of one year.. The evaluation criterions of the impurities in the irrigation water were based on the studies of the trickle irrigation systems. The parameters analyzed were: pH, turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved solids, EC, hardness, Langelier index, total iron, sulphites, algae and bacterium. The source of water used in this experiment was from an open reservoir, where it has been installed an experimental trickle irrigation system. The research was developed in four phases of 30 days each, in different seasons of year. The interpretation of the results showed that the chemical factors, which presented medium risk of clogging for the emitters, were pH and the concentration of iron and sulphites. The physical and biological analyzed parameters of water quality showed low risk of clogging in the drippers. In the filter of non-woven synthetic fabrics the evolution of head loss was sharper and faster than in the disc filter.
water quality; non woven synthetic fabric; filtration
