Riverscreens
Suction Solutions for Multiple Applications
A Riverscreen is a brand of suction device that has been time tested for several challenging irrigation applications. Any surface water source is likely to have debris that can cause plugging issues at the smallest orifice in your irrigation system. If you are using pivots, that will typically be in the first few spans.
When compared to most suction screen devices, Riverscreens are designed with two major advantages. They generally have a much larger surface area and are self-cleaning. By utilizing a rotating drum that is sprayed off with a portion of the intake water, your intake screen stays clear of debris. This also allows the screen to be finer as the mesh is kept clear, eliminating even smaller particles from entering the water supply. If your water supply stays clean, you reduce and will probably even eliminate the need to unplug nozzles during your irrigation season.
The larger surface area and low-profile base aids in your intake point being lower in shallow water. This feature allows water uptake to continue and still irrigate if your water source is as low as four inches of running water. This can be critical during drier seasons, allowing you to keep irrigating even if the water source is only a few inches in depth. Getting water to your crops can be a game changer during hot dry periods when watering your crop is vital.
Priming is another benefit from incorporating a Riverscreen into your system. Riverscreens are equipped with foot valves keeping the line full, minimizing priming issues. If there is a significant drop in elevation from the suction source to the pump or major changes in the water level due to pump down, we may recommend a floating pump station. Your pump is installed on the Riverscreen and rises and falls with the water level. This virtually eliminates the need to prime your system as the pump is only inches from your intake point at all times.
In situations where there is a significant amount of floating debris, initial season start-ups can be challenging. A simple inexpensive solution is to equip your Riverscreen with a power driver. A small electric motor is added to your Riverscreen which turns your screen even without any water from the jets spinning the screen.
Eliminating plugged nozzles, reducing the need for priming and gaining the ability to pump from as few as four inches of running water are all benefits from installing a Riverscreen to the suction side of your irrigation system. These advantages can allow you to continue pumping when your neighbors have shut down. Adding yield, spend less time priming and even fewer hours cleaning out plugged nozzles are all benefits of installing a Riverscreen. Where can you find a Riverscreen? Michigan Valley Irrigation has been installing Riverscreens for years. Whether your water supply is a flowing stream, a stagnant pond, or a low solids livestock lagoon, we have learned how to help recommend the best unit for your situation. We bring in semi loads annually and nearly always have units in stock. Call us today, we’d be happy to help!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Pete is the marketing manager for Michigan Valley Irrigation, having joined the company in 2016. He was raised on a dairy farm in western New York and graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in agricultural economics. His entire working career of over 37 years has been involved in agriculture. A farmer helping farmers. When away from Michigan Valley he operates, Joyful Noise Farm, a small livestock and produce farm and spends time with his family.
