Solid particles suspended in water result from the entrainment of tiny inorganic soil constituents such as clay and silt, as well as organic matter such as plant debris, algae, and bacteria. These materials do not dissolve in water and remain suspended almost indefinitely.
Filtering of lake, pond, canal, or recycled water used for irrigation is a good idea as a means of protecting the orifices of sprinkler heads from clogging. In addition to such mechanical problems, suspended solids can clog up a soil, causing permeability problems and adversely affecting plants that rely on those soils for water and nutrients.
The general rule is that a suspended solids level below 50 mg/L is safe for a drip irrigation system, whereas values above 100 mg/L can cause plugging of such systems.
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