A strainer system comprising: a strainer housing having a first end portion and a second end portion, an inlet for raw fluid and an outlet for strained fluid, the outlet for strained fluid being disposed in the first end portion of the housing; a plurality of strainer modules disposed within the strainer housing, each strainer module comprising: a strainer basket having a strainer screen and disposed within the housing, the external surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the raw fluid inlet and the internal surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the strained fluid outlet; and a backwash collector assembly comprising a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being movable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen; the strainer system further comprising: a backwash outlet disposed in the second end portion of the strainer housing; a single drive system able to move each of the strainer baskets relative to its associated backwash conduit, said single drive system being disposed in the first end portion of the strainer housing. a strainer housing having a first end portion and a second end portion, an inlet for raw fluid and an outlet for strained fluid, the outlet for strained fluid being disposed in the first end portion of the housing; a plurality of strainer modules disposed within the strainer housing, each strainer module comprising: a strainer basket having a strainer screen and disposed within the housing, the external surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the raw fluid inlet and the internal surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the strained fluid outlet; and a backwash collector assembly comprising a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being movable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen; the strainer system further comprising: a backwash outlet disposed in the second end portion of the strainer housing; a single drive system able to move each of the strainer baskets relative to its associated backwash conduit, said single drive system being disposed in the first end portion of the strainer housing. a strainer basket having a strainer screen and disposed within the housing, the external surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the raw fluid inlet and the internal surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the strained fluid outlet; and a backwash collector assembly comprising a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being movable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen; the strainer system further comprising: a backwash outlet disposed in the second end portion of the strainer housing; a single drive system able to move each of the strainer baskets relative to its associated backwash conduit, said single drive system being disposed in the first end portion of the strainer housing. a backwash outlet disposed in the second end portion of the strainer housing; a single drive system able to move each of the strainer baskets relative to its associated backwash conduit, said single drive system being disposed in the first end portion of the strainer housing.