This invention is directed to a hydrocyclone that will separate particles from a liquid stream, such as from an irrigation water stream for use in drip irrigation. The invented hydrocyclone has an inlet, a separation section, a clean liquid outlet, and a slurry outlet, wherein the separation section has a vortex and a cone, and wherein the vortex length is more than three times longer than the cone length, and the cone has an angle of about 45 degrees. The invented hydrocyclone also has a vortex diameter to vortex length ratio of between about 0.8 and about 1.2, and a cone length to vortex length ratio of between about 0.28 and about 0.35. The invented hydrocylone may be of unitary construction. When in use, the invented hydrocyclone may create a clean water stream having at least 78% fewer particles than the original liquid stream.