This study had the objective to conduct an experimental enquiry on a surface water source utilized in a trickle irrigation system and its influence on the head loss evolution in two filters - a disc filter (130 micra) and a non-woven synthetic fabric in filtration of water. The temporal variation of physical, chemical and biological parameters of the irrigation water causing problem of obstruction in drippers were analysed. The evaluation criterion of the impurities present in the irrigation water were based on the studies of the trickle irrigation systems. The research was executed in four phases of 30 days each, in different seasons. The results showed that the chemical factors, which presented medium risk of clogging for emitters, were pH and the concentration of iron and sulphites. The physical and biological parameters of water quality showed low risk of clogging the drippers. The evolution of head loss, according to the volume filtered was also followed up for the sake of comparison. It was observed that the non woven synthetic fabric showed higher and faster head loss evolution than the disc filter.
drip; non-woven synthetic fabric; filtration
