The water source for irrigation should be as clean as possible. Surface water often carries sediments and trash. Large particles should be screened out, letting fines pass. Be careful and occasionally flush out or drain accumulations of fine particles from pipes. Also, check pump impellers and bearings for wear.
Sand causes excess impeller, bearing wear on pumps, and nozzle wear on sprinklers.
Location, quantity, and quality of water should be determined before any type of irrigation system is selected. No assumptions should be made with the water supply. Make sure the water source is large enough to meet the irrigation system's demand by test pumping groundwater sources or measuring flow rate of streams. Use Table 1 to help determine the amount of water needed for various irrigation systems. Each system has advantages, disadvantages, and uses.