The Problem with Strainers

Traditional suction strainers need to be suspended at least 24 inches above the bottom and 18 inches below the water surface to function properly. In shallow water — creeks, ditches, ponds, dugouts — that depth doesn't exist. The strainer sits in sand and debris, the mesh clogs, flow drops, the pump cavitates, and you're either clearing the intake or pulling out to find deeper water. Sand and pebbles that get through cause internal pump damage, clogged nozzles, and blocked sprinkler heads. It costs you time, water, and pumps.

What Separators Do Differently

  • Sits on the Bottom

    No floats or suspension needed. BearsPaw Separators are designed to rest directly on sand and gravel while functioning at full capacity — in as little as 6 inches of water.

  • Separates Solids at Source

    Patented separation technology instantly separates sand, pebbles, and debris from the water before it reaches your pump. Only clean water passes through — no clogs, no pump damage, no blocked nozzles or sprinkler heads.

  • Self-Cleaning

    Deploy it and go. Separators don't rely on mesh that clogs — the separation process returns sediment and debris to the environment while maintaining consistent flow. No babysitting required.

  • Less Restrictive Than Strainers

    BearsPaw Separator technology is less restrictive than typical suction strainers, so pumps don't have to work as hard to produce required flows. Better pump protection and higher performance from the same water source.

How Patented Separation Technology Works

Unlike strainers — which rely on mesh size to filter debris — BearsPaw SEPARATORS® use patented separation technology that instantly separates debris and sediment from the water before it reaches the pump. During the suction process, sediment, sand, and debris are separated from the water at source, allowing only clean water to flow to the pump while returning the sediment and debris to nature. This level of advanced pump protection is not possible with traditional suction strainers — and it works even while resting on the bottom of a creek in 6 inches or less.

Red BearsPaw Suction Separator floating pump

2" BearsPaw Suction Separator

The BearsPaw FC2.3HPC-20NPSHF-VG is a 2-inch (50 mm) suction separator designed for high-pressure fire pumps including WATERAX, CET, and WICK. It includes a ball-swivel connector, an integrated foot valve to help maintain prime in the suction hose, and a vegetation guard for dependable pump performance in field conditions.

Flow rate: 113 US GPM / 427 LPM / 94 Imp GPM
Optional connectors including Camlock available.

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Built-In Features

  • Vegetation Guard (V-Guard)

    An integral, easily removable attachment that enables extended drafting time in weeds and debris-laden water sources. Keeps vegetation from interfering with the separation process so you can draft from overgrown ponds, ditches, and shorelines without clearing the intake first.

  • Ball Swivel Connector

    A unique attachment that offers a flexible directional connection for the suction hose. Reduces strain on the hose and fittings when the Separator is resting on uneven terrain or at an angle to the pump — common in field drafting from natural water sources.

  • Integrated Foot Valve

    Built-in foot valve helps maintain prime in the suction hose. When drafting from shallow or distant sources, a lost prime means restarting the pump and wasting time. The foot valve keeps water in the line so you stay operational.

Built Tough

  • Robotic Welding & Certified Materials

    6061 Aluminum, HDPE, and Stainless Steel construction. Robotic welding for consistent, high-strength joints. Built to handle the abuse of field deployment — dropped on rocks, dragged through sand, submerged in saltwater.

  • 2-Year Warranty & 120-Day Guarantee

    Every BearsPaw Separator comes with a 2-year warranty that includes saltwater deployment, plus a 120-day money-back guarantee. If it doesn't perform, send it back.

  • Made in Canada

    Designed and manufactured in British Columbia by BearsPaw ProtectaPump Ltd. — a Canadian R&D company focused on liquid/solids separation and isolation technology for extraction pumps since 2016.

Pair It With Your Pump

The 2-inch BearsPaw Separator is designed for high-pressure fire pumps — including the WATERAX, CET, and WICK portable pump lines. Flash carries the full WATERAX pump lineup, Shibaura portable pumps, and the suction hose, fittings, and accessories to connect the Separator to your existing system. One supplier, one call.

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Applications

  • Rural Fire Departments

    No hydrants, shallow water sources, long tanker refill cycles. Separators let rural departments draft from ponds, ditches, and creeks they couldn't safely use before — cutting refill times and eliminating pump damage from sand and debris.

  • Wildland Fire Agencies

    Remote water sources are rarely deep or clean. Separators give wildland crews reliable drafting from shallow creeks, beaver ponds, and roadside ditches without cavitation, clogged nozzles, or sprinkler head blockages during structure protection operations.

  • Municipal Tanker Operations

    Faster tanker refills from more locations. Separators multiply your usable water sources so tankers can draft closer to the fire instead of running back to the same deep pond every cycle.

  • Dewatering & Industrial

    Beyond firefighting, Separators are used for dewatering flooded basements, parkades, and excavations — including broken water main scenarios. The same technology that protects fire pumps protects extraction pumps in any mixed-water environment.

About BearsPaw ProtectaPump

BearsPaw ProtectaPump Ltd. is a Canadian research and development company based in British Columbia, focused on liquid/solids separation and isolation technology for extraction pumps. Since 2016, BearsPaw has collaborated with fire departments and industry professionals across Canada to develop and refine their patented Separator technology — now in its third generation. All BearsPaw products are designed and manufactured in Canada and distributed coast to coast through a trusted dealer network.

Questions About BearsPaw Separators?

Contact our team for product details, pricing, or help choosing the right Separator and connector configuration for your pump. We carry BearsPaw alongside the pumps, hose, and fittings to complete the system.

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