Dripper-clogging factors in wastewater irrigation

Wastewaters that have undergone treatment and are stored in open reservoirs frequently cause clogging problems while being applied through dripirrigation systems. This study is aimed at defining the clogging factors and mechanisms of blockage within three types of drippers as a basis for developing technical measures to overcome the problem. The relevant effluent constituents are defined and physical and chemical properties of the deposits in hundreds of emitters are examined, using both field and laboratory experiments. A gradual clogging mechanism is proposed: The sediment buildup begins with the deposition of amorphous slimes, to which other particles adhere. The clogging rate is more affected by particle size than by particle-number density. The chemical composition of the deposits in the dripper changes with the season. Filtration prevents immediate clogging by large particles. Clogging potential may be decreased by modifying the emitter structure and by chemical pretreatment.