At a recent Teagasc drainage event in Co Cork, one was demonstrated by Barry Hogan of Tallow, Co Waterford. These machines work by pushing a pressure hose into the mouth of a drain and up along it length and jetting out any dirt. They were first brought to my attention by a Donegal farmer who has one and uses it every year to clean his drains on a rotation basis. Because of his soil type, the pipes in his intensively drained land are prone to clogging with jelly-like, rusty coloured, iron ochre.
At a recent Teagasc drainage event in Co Cork, one was demonstrated by Barry Hogan of Tallow, Co Waterford.
These machines work by pushing a pressure hose into the mouth of a drain and up along it length and jetting out any dirt. They were first brought to my attention by a Donegal farmer who has one and uses it every year to clean his drains on a rotation basis. Because of his soil type, the pipes in his intensively drained land are prone to clogging with jelly-like, rusty coloured, iron ochre.
However, pipes can be blocked for other reasons too, including fine silt, clay and plant roots. So these machines can have a role to play everywhere in regular land maintenance, along with ditch cleaning, sub-soiling, etc.
Barry Hogan purchased his machine with the help of funding provided by Waterford LEADER Partnership. He runs two hedgecutters as well as working at silage in summer. The hedge cutting makes him very aware of the need for ditch and drain maintenance on farms. “The hedge cutting season is now very short and if ground is wet you just can’t travel.”
Picture one
The drain cleaners are made by Dutch company Homberg. Barry bought the Senior model, which is designed for contractor use. “I have it on a 120hp Claas Arion 610 fitted with 650mm tyres for travelling on marginal ground.” Although this is the heavy duty contractor model the Senior still weighs less than 0.5t.
Picture two
The cleaner has 300m of pressure hose on a reel. The hose is relatively rigid so that it can be pushed a long distance up a narrow drainage pipe without kinking.
Picture three
The hose is threaded on this telescopic feed-out arm which is hydraulically controlled. Here, using the hand control, Barry manoeuvres the nozzle end of the hose down the bank to the mouth of the drainage pipe.
He unreels hose, sending the nozzle into the drainage pipe. There are drive wheels on the feed-out arm to push the hose up the pipe.
Picture four
Then it’s time to switch on the water pump. Here, Barry has turned on the pump to show the nozzle in action. This is the business end of the machine. The nozzle head has one jet shooting water forward to break up silt and clay deposits or plants roots. It has 12 backward-facing jets. These wash debris back down the pipe and out into the open ditch. At the same time they pull the hose forward, further up the pipe.
Barry told me that the pump operates at relatively low pressure – not over 144 lb. “At that pressure it won’t damage plastic or clay drainage pipes. It’s not like the power out of a big pressure washer which can be 3,000 lb.”
Picture five
We see the hose working its way slowly up the pipe, flushing out silt and debris.
Picture six
Those who attended the demonstration were able to see the dirt jetted out of the drainage pipe. Note that the open drain here had been cleaned out in advance. Barry Hogan advised that it makes sense to have ditches clean before jetting drainage pipes.
Picture seven
The jetter will clean from 50m to 150m of pipe per hour, depending on the size of the pipe and how clogged up it is. “Some drainage pipes were installed in the 1970s and never cleaned. They might have to be washed out twice with the cleaner.”
With the pipe cleaned, Barry reels back in the hose and turns off the pump.
Picture eight
Barry Hogan explaining to the crowd event how the machine works. “For the first four or five years drainage pipes can work well but then problems develop. Before calling in an excavator to lay new pipes, it’s worth investigating if the existing pipes have become clogged and can be cleaned. I will usually go out to look at a job first. Sometimes the banks of the ditch will have caved in and the pipes won’t be visible. It may be possible to find them with a shovel, maybe a digger has to be called in.”
The Homburg cleaner can suck the clean water it needs from the open ditch, upstream of the drainage pipe. However, where a ditch is dry in summer Barry will bring water on site in IBC tanks. “I will carry one on the front of the tractor and can bring two more on a trailer. But it’s cheaper if there’s water on site. One IBC tank will clean 150m of pipe.’’
Cost
Barry Hogan charges €60/hour plus 13.5% VAT for work in his catchment area. If he has to bring water on site, that costs extra
The demonstration
The land drainage and farm infrastructure demonstration was organised by Teagasc Adviser Brian Hilliard and held on the farm of PJ Hickey, Modeligo, Co.Waterford.
Pat Tuohy, Teagasc drainage researcher, and Sean Crosse, former Department of Agriculture specialist, outlined how to determine correct drainage system, depth of drains and the most suitable type of stone to use, all for different soil types. Tom Ryan, Teagasc Buildings Specialist and Bertie Troy, Grasstec discussed paddock size, shape and access routes; water supply and farm roadway width.
PJ Hickey plans to gradually increase cow numbers from 100 at present to an eventual maximum of 140, in addition to 30LU of replacement heifers. Drystock numbers will be cut. PJ’s land has been drained over the years and he plans to do a more drainage work to help increase grass production and utilisation, particularly in Spring and Autumn.
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