Apparatus for removal of contaminants from a fluid including a backflushable filter (20) having a filter element (42), a filter inlet (19) coupled to an upstream side of the filter element and a filter outlet (24) coupled to a downstream side of the filter element, pump apparatus (14) having a pump inlet (13) and a pump outlet (15), a drain, apparatus for selectably coupling the pump inlet to the drain; apparatus for coupling the pump outlet to the filter inlet; and apparatus for selectably coupling the upstream side of the filter element to the drain including apparatus for separating contaminants from a fluid flowing from the upstream side of the filter element to the drain.