Madison Ranches is a fourth-generation family farm founded more than a century ago. Its irrigation system depends on water pumps at the dead end of a canal. These pumps draw 18,000 gallons of water per minute over 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 9 months. A set of trash racks protecting the pumps were a source of pain, as they routinely clogged with stringy debris and required constant manual cleaning.

When replacing or updating intake screens, customers often pay closest attention to the initial capital expenditure costs. Screen projects are large endeavors, and the initial “price tag” of even a less expensive system can seem daunting. But if you choose a screening solution based solely on this, you could end up paying more in the long run. You should also factor in a system’s likely operational and maintenance [O&M] costs, otherwise know as total cost of ownership.