A drafting strainer requires a minimum of how many inches of water above & below the hard intake to avoid picking up silt & debris?

A drafting strainer requires a minimum of how many inches of water above & below the hard intake to avoid picking up silt & debris?

• A. 12 inches
• B. 24 inches
• C. 18 inches
• D. 30 inches

Answer: (B)

Keep the intake surrounded by a substantial water column. When drafting, the pump’s suction can pull in whatever is closest to the intake, so if the intake sits near the surface you risk drawing in surface debris, and if it sits too near the bottom you can grab silt and mud. By having a buffer of water both above and below the intake, the suction stays in cleaner water and is less likely to pull in sediment or air, which helps maintain a steady prime and flow. The standard approach is to maintain roughly a two-foot depth of water on all sides around the intake. If that buffer isn’t present, silt and debris are more likely to clog the strainer and reduce pump performance.

Keep the intake surrounded by a substantial water column. When drafting, the pump’s suction can pull in whatever is closest to the intake, so if the intake sits near the surface you risk drawing in surface debris, and if it sits too near the bottom you can grab silt and mud. By having a buffer of water both above and below the intake, the suction stays in cleaner water and is less likely to pull in sediment or air, which helps maintain a steady prime and flow. The standard approach is to maintain roughly a two-foot depth of water on all sides around the intake. If that buffer isn’t present, silt and debris are more likely to clog the strainer and reduce pump performance.