Netafim USA’s AlphaDisc filter receives award

Netafim USA is celebrating recognition for its AlphaDisc filter, designed to protect irrigation systems against clogging caused by organic contaminants.

The Irrigation Association named AlphaDisc the Bronze winner of its 2022 New Product Contest in agriculture irrigation. The awards were during the association’s Irrigation Show and Education week in December in Las Vegas.

Due to the ongoing deterioration of irrigation water quality from climate change, pollution, and reclaimed water, growers have an increasing need for effective filtration, according to a Netafim news release. To protect their irrigation systems for long-term performance, AlphaDisc is a vital resource to help them improve growing conditions, reduce the risk of clogging and increase crop yields.

“Resource availability continues to be challenged as do cropping patterns and cultural practices,” Mike Hemman, Netafilm USA president and CEO, said in a news release when AlphaDisc was introduced in early 2022. “It is our mission here and around the world, to provide growers with the resources to monitor and control their most valuable resources while maximizing their return on investment.”

Some of the AlphaDisc attributes, according to the company, are:

• High dirt-holding capacity — A high filtration volume area and the lowest head loss in the industry ensures a higher particle capture rate, fewer backflush cycles and less disruption downstream.
• Smart controller — The IP65-rated controller allows consistent access to filtration data.
• High efficiency, precise depth filtration — Leverages a unique design with a precise filtration grade through all depths of the filter, meaning better clog protection and more consistent performance.
• Hyper modular — The unique, modular design of AlphaDisc offers easy scalability as needs evolve.

Up to 70% of water used for agriculture is surface water from reservoirs, lakes, canals and ponds, which contain algae and other organic contaminants that increase the risk of clogging, Chuck Bates, vice president of products and agronomy for Netafim USA, said in the release.

“AlphaDisc helps growers adapt to ever-changing conditions that affect their water supply while remaining productive, which is a sustainable and reliable approach,” he said in the release. “We want to ensure that we continue to arm growers with the best resources to do their job well while also planning for the unexpected.”

“Offering growers in the U.S. an intelligent automated filter that counters degrading water quality is a point of pride for our company,” Mike Illia, senior product manager, said in the release. “It reinforces our credibility and overall commitment to grow more with less while also being a leading manufacturer in an industry that requires innovative thinking and futuristic planning for the benefit of our growers.”