There are an abundance of water filtration systems on the market. It can be confusing and overwhelming to try to decide what is the best fit for you and your household. I had been eyeing the Berkey filter far longer than I'd like to admit before finally I purchased one for our home. I ordered ours from Berkey Water Filter Canada. Click here for their site.
Here are the reasons why I chose a Berkey filter for our home:
It does not require any power. No plug, no problem. That's right, this system works with gravity to filter the water. The water filters down from the top chamber to the bottom chamber through the charcoal filters. It was important to me that if there was a power outage, we could still be able to filter water. We had an ice storm a few years ago, and our power was knocked out for a long period of time. Since then, I've really looked at how we can ensure we have the basics covered even without a power source.
The water tastes fresh. The first time I tried water from a Berkey was at a yoga studio. Now, I'm not a huge water drinker, but this tasted fresh, and clean. I actually noticed that it tasted good. As far as I'm concerned it's the best tasting filtered water I've had.
Easy maintenance. Cleaning the chambers and filters is easy. Once a month, I disassemble the Berkey, and give it a good scrub in the sink.
It's made of high quality stainless steel. Not only is it aesthetically appealing, the stainless steel construction ensures minimal water contact with plastic parts.
The filters have a long lifespan. Each Berkey filter is designed to purify approximately 3000 gallons of water before needing to be replaced. A set of two elements will last approximately 6000 gallons of water before needing replacement. If you have a two filter Big Berkey and you used 5 gallons of water per day, then you have 1200 days the filters will last.
Effective. Berkey filters have been tested by third-party labs that have reported that the elements exceed EPA and ANSI/NSF (Std. 53) protocol, and address over 200+ typical contaminants found in tap water and other freshwater sources.
Useful in Emergency Situations. In emergencies the Berkey filter allows use of non municipal water sources (streams, lake, rainwater)
Convenient. There are no more 5 gallon jugs to lug around or water delivery to arrange. Just simply fill the upper chamber from your kitchen tap and you are good to go.
Replacement parts are available. If needed, replacement parts are readily available online in the US, and Canada.
Portable. The Berkey can be dismantled and transported if the need arises. There are no permanent water hook ups, or hardware involved.
So, what does it filter out??
Bacteria – removed to a 99.99999% level
Viruses – removed to a 99.9999% level
Lead – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Arsenic – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Iron – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Mercury – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Chlorine – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Bisphenol-A – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Chloramines – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Pharmaceuticals – Removed to greater than 99.5%
Petroleum Contaminants – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Methylcyclohexane-methane – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Pesticides – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Heavy Metals – Removed to greater than 99.1%
Coliform and e-Coli – Removed to greater than 99.9
Atrazine – Removed to greater than 99.99%
Fluoride – Removed to greater than 99.9%
Considerations regarding the Berkey Water Filter System
It’s an up front investment, however I've found it to be rather economical given the lifespan of the unit and filters. I bought the Crown Berkey (22.7 liters) and it works for us, given how much water we drink. Sizes of units range from 5.7 liters to 22.7 liters.
Since the water is not kept chilled, you will have to empty out any unused water after a week if it has been sitting unused. For example, if I'm going on holiday, I empty the water from the bottom chamber into a jug to have in the fridge upon our return. I leave the Berkey disassembled to dry while we are gone. Typically we go through a tank or more per day so this usually isn't a problem for us.
You can overflow the bottom chamber. Remember to only pour in the top what will fit in the bottom. I highly recommend purchasing the sight glass spigot which will show you how much water remains in the bottom chamber.
Where do I put this?
Counterspace is maxed out in my kitchen. So I opted for an attractive handmade wooden stand. There were other options available, however this suited my taste and space. I purchased mine off Etsy from a seller called David and Rau. There are options for wood and size. It is a very sturdy, well made piece that can handle even the largest of the Berkeys. Highly recommend. Click here for the listing.