The versatile Big Berkey® system is the ideal system for use at home with small or medium sized families, travel, outdoor activities or during unexpected emergencies.
This powerful system purifies both treated water and untreated raw water from such sources as remote lakes, streams, stagnant ponds and water supplies in foreign countries, where regulations may be substandard at best. Perfect for everyday use, outdoor activities and a must in hostile environments where electricity, water pressure or treated water may not be available.
The Big Berkey® system removes pathogenic bacteria, cysts and parasites entirely and extracts harmful chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, VOCs, organic solvents, radon 222 and trihalomethanes. It also reduces nitrates, nitrites and unhealthy minerals such as lead and mercury. This system is so powerful it can remove food coloring from water without removing the beneficial minerals your body needs. Virtually no other system can duplicate this performance.
Constructed of highly polished 304 stainless steel, the system comes complete with two purification elements and utilizes the latest technological advances. This system has a storage capacity of about 2.25 gallons (8.5 liters) and when in use it stands 19.25″ in height with a diameter of 8.5″. The upper chamber nests within the lower chamber for transport and stands only 13″ in height.
Configured with two Black Berkey® purification elements the system will purify up to 3 1/2 Gallons (13.3 liters) per hour.
Price: $249.00
Features
- 2.25 Gallon holding Volume
- Height = 19.25" . Diameter = 8.5"
- Purifies 3.5 Gallons / Hour
- High Grade 304 Stainless Steel
- 2 Black Berkeys good for 6000 Gallons
User Reviews
I purchased by Berkey for a couple of reasons, I wanted better tasting water, and living in hurricane country I wanted to ensure that emergency water I stored would be safe to drink. I believe I got exactly what I wanted. My city water isn't the best, it smells bad, and quite frankly it has a large chemical taste to it. So I haven't drank tap water in years, because I have hated the way it tastes. Water from they Berkey filter tastes great, no chemical taste to it. I am considering canceling my spring water delivery. I like that annualized the price for water filtered through my berkey filtration system is a bargin when compared to my water delivery.
I haven't yet tried putting water through that has been stored, I anticipate good results. The assemble took just a couple of minutes, but I was up and running in no time. I am looking forward to installing the flouride removing filters which I promptly purchased after trying my first batch of filtered water. This will filter about 3 gallons a day, which for me, works well for cooking and drinking. I am very happy with my purchase. -- Great tasting water
I decided against distillation, since there are many cons with that process: it produces acidic water (I used to buy distilled water from the store until I started noticing my gums were getting itchy from it), and recaptures chemicals with lower boiling points than water. This was unacceptable to me since California's municipal water sources are heavily chlorinated. It's so nasty, you can smell the chlorine coming out of the taps. I can't stand the taste or smell of it. I decided against reverse osmosis because of its costs and the amount of waste water it produces. After much research, I settled on a gravity based microfilter, and Big Berkey came with lots of recommendations.
So far, after nearly filtering 200 gallons, the Big Berkey is pulling all free chlorine out of the water. Here is a pic that demonstrates:
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The water on the right is tap water mixed with a chlorine/bromine indicator solution. The color indicates that the tap water in Monterey, CA has more chlorine than a healthy swimming pool. YUCK! The water on the right is from the Big Berkey. The indicator solution shows there is no detectable chlorine! SWEET! -- I did alot of research before buying the Big Berkey
The standard berkey filter removes only larger particulates and the black berkey elements are made of activated charcoal.
Berkey has published no evidence tthat their filter can remove viruses which are usually several orders of magnitude smaller than bacteria and parasites/cysts.
Berkey also has not published comprehensive test results such as are commonly provided for RO filters. I would guess the reason they have not published such information is that their filter, unlike RO units, is ineffective against most dissolved contaminants or even very small particulates such as viruses. The lack of any such published data of their filter's efficacy is why they cannot be sold in California.
Berkey is essentially selling a filter that they do not provide comprehensive specs for and claim that a TDS meter will not quantify its efficacy. So, that leaves a typical user with no way to test the effectiveness of the Berkey filter. I certainly would not trust Berkey any more than I would a municipal water company, and probably much less since at least the water company publishes their test data.
Berkey's advertising material claims their filter is effective on a variety of contaminants, but they do not specify the test conditions (concentration of contaminants in the feed water among other things).
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The test data they released from reputable labs only address a handful of contaminants (the substances that are the easiest to remove such as E. coli and chlorine--using the activated charcoal/black berkey elements)
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Also, how does the Berkey filter distinguish between "healthful" and "unhealthful" minerals/metals/substances? What it comes down to is the Berkey filter will remove a portion of the substances that are attracted to activated charcoal if the black berkey option is used, and a portion of the substances attracted to alumina if the fluoride/arsenic option is used. If neither option is used, all it does is remove the larger particulates. (It's funny that a "minute" unquantified amount of aluminum compound (presumably mostly aluminum oxide otherwise known as alumina) introduced by their fluoride filter is harmless, but a minute amount of fluoride and other substances is a serious health hazard.)
There is no evidence the Berkey filter with or without the optional elements is superior to any RO system. Since Berkey does not provide comparable test data, we have no way of knowing with any certainty though basic chemistry and the data from a simple TDS meter strongly suggests the Berkey filter is not effective against dissolved contaminants. -- Berkey filter only removes larger particulates
Purchased this product to replace PUR faucet filter and the weekly trips lugging home bottled water. The berkey does just what it is advertised to do - filters the water. We have very hard water that is full of chlorine and minerals. The berkey leaves us with clean natural tasting water. It leaves the minerals in but removes all the chemicals and bacteria left in by our municipal water company. The taste and water quality that we get from the berkey is very very good.
Our family of 4 now drinks more water because it "tastes good" and the water we get from the berkey satisfies our thirst. The berkey does not produce "reverse osmosis" clean water - but - it does not waste 2 gallons of water for each gallon it produces. Our family is very satisfied with the berkey and we are glad we purchased it.
What we learned so far in using the berkey - keep it close to the sink - you will be filling it up everyday because everyone will be drinking more water. Get in a routine to check the water level first thing in the morning and last thing at night. That way you can fill it up when needed. We have a sink sprayer so we just grab the sprayer hose - lift the top and fill 'er up when needed. The daily amount of water produced by this model of berkey is quite adequate for our family's needs (drinking, coffee, tea, cooking). One thing I noticed is that there appear to be two types of water spigots for the berkey - one that has a handle that turns right to left and another type of spigot that pulls down from the top. We have the spigot with the handle that turns from right to left. I wonder if the other spigot might be a better choice to get and use.
Good product - I would highly recommend as a simple, elegant solution for getting high quality drinking water. -- Gets the Job Done
Spigot leaked. Called company that sent the Berkey. Was sent a new spigot (which did not fit my Berkey) along with several washers. Spigot still leaked with new washers. Had nothing to lose so tried using just one washer instead of one inside and one outside. Works like a charm. Appreciated how company worked with me to resolve issue. I am very satisfied, especially now that I have the filters to remove fluoride (which company explained how to install).
-- Problem but we worked it through
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