Pleated Washable Cartridge – 20 Inch Jumbo | UV Water Systems Oman

For applications where high flow rate, easy maintenance, and reusability are more important than fine micron filtration, pleated washable cartridges offer a practical advantage over disposable melt-blown PP cartridges. Made from corrugated polyester fabric pleated into a high-surface-area cylindrical element, the pleated washable cartridge provides sediment filtration in the 20–100 micron range at significantly higher flow rates than PP cartridges of the same physical dimensions — because the pleated design multiplies the total filtration area within the same cartridge envelope by a factor of 5–8× over a flat or wound surface. When loaded with dirt and pressure drop rises, the cartridge is removed and cleaned by rinsing under running water or with a low-pressure hose, then returned to service. UV Water Systems in Muscat supplies 20-inch jumbo pleated washable cartridges for agricultural irrigation pre-filtration, industrial water pre-treatment, swimming pool pre-filtration, process water coarse filtration, and equipment cooling water pre-treatment across Oman — applications where frequent disposal of single-use cartridges is impractical or unnecessarily expensive.

Pleated vs. Melt-Blown Cartridges — Choosing the Right Type

The correct cartridge type depends on the application. Melt-blown PP cartridges filter to 1–50 microns and are disposable — appropriate for RO pre-treatment and drinking water applications where fine particle removal and hygiene are paramount. Pleated washable cartridges filter in the 20–100 micron range and are reusable — appropriate for coarse sediment removal before irrigation equipment, sand filters, softeners, industrial machinery cooling water, and process water where very fine filtration is not required and high flow rate at low pressure drop is more important than submicron particle capture. Using a washable pleated cartridge in an application that requires 5-micron filtration is insufficient — use a PP melt-blown cartridge for those applications. UV Water Systems advises on the correct cartridge type for each specific application and water quality condition in Oman.

Key Features and Benefits

Washable and reusable — lower long-term cost: A single pleated washable cartridge, maintained by periodic backwashing or hose rinsing, can serve for 12–24 months in appropriate applications — reducing cartridge replacement costs compared to monthly or quarterly disposable cartridge replacement in high-flow applications.
High filtration surface area at high flow rate: Pleated construction provides 5–8× the filtration area of a wound or melt-blown cartridge of the same length — enabling high flow rates (up to 15–20 LPM for a 20-inch jumbo) with lower pressure drop than equivalent-rating disposable cartridges.
Polyester construction for chemical resistance: Polyester pleat fabric is resistant to chlorinated water, dilute acid cleaning solutions, and alkaline cleaning agents — the cartridge can be chemically cleaned as well as physically rinsed when biological or mineral fouling requires more than simple backwashing.
20-micron nominal filtration rating: Suitable for removing sand, gravel fines, coarse silt, vegetative matter, and large particulate from irrigation source water, surface water, and borehole water in Oman before it reaches irrigation drip systems, sprinkler heads, or processing equipment.
Standard 20-inch × 4.5-inch jumbo format: Fits the same standard big blue and jumbo housings as the PP sediment and carbon block cartridges — no additional housing required if an existing jumbo housing is in place.

Technical Specifications

Length: 20 inches (508 mm) nominal
OD: 4.5 inches (114 mm)
Filter type: Pleated polyester (washable)
Filtration rating: 20 micron nominal
Max flow rate: 15–20 LPM at rated pressure
Cleaning method: Backwash with clean water or low-pressure hose

Applications Across Oman

Pleated washable cartridges from UV Water Systems are used in agricultural drip irrigation pre-filtration, industrial cooling water systems, swimming pool makeup water treatment, construction water pre-treatment, and equipment protection across Oman. For applications requiring fine filtration to protect RO membranes or UV sterilizers, UV Water Systems uses melt-blown PP cartridges — contact us at +968 9763 7786 to confirm the right cartridge specification for your application.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean a pleated washable cartridge? Remove the cartridge from the housing and rinse the pleated surface with clean running water from a tap or low-pressure hose — spray water between the pleats to dislodge trapped particles. Do not use a high-pressure jet washer, which can damage the pleat fabric. For mineral scale on the pleats, soak in a 5% citric acid solution for 30 minutes then rinse. Replace if the pleat fabric tears or the cartridge end caps are damaged.

Can I use a pleated washable cartridge before my RO system? A 20-micron pleated cartridge can be used as an upstream coarse pre-filter to extend the life of a finer 5-micron PP sediment cartridge — but it cannot replace the PP cartridge as RO pre-treatment on its own. RO membranes require pre-filtration to ≤5 microns; 20-micron filtration passes particles large enough to foul the membrane. UV Water Systems recommends a pleated pre-filter → 5-micron PP cartridge → carbon block sequence for high-sediment inlet water conditions in Oman.

UV Water Systems is an ISO 9001:2015 certified water treatment company based in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, with 14+ years of experience. We supply, install, and service water treatment solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial clients across Oman. Call +968 9763 7786 or visit www.uvwater.biz.

Pleated Washable Cartridge Oman

Pleated Washable Cartridge 20 Inch Jumbo – UV Water Systems Oman