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For years, Berkey Filters has been a trusted water filtration possibility for myself and for tens of millions of households. Nonetheless, current circumstances have modified issues. Is Berkey nonetheless an possibility? And if not, what alternate options are there for making certain protected, clear ingesting water in your house? Learn on to search out out.
My household has been dwelling off-grid since 2017. We harvest rainwater from the roof and retailer it in a buried concrete cistern. This water is then pumped into the home, passing by a 2-stage particulate filter. It’s then saved in a strain tank the place it may possibly then circulation to fixtures all through the home.
The particulate filter is ok for getting out the positive filth and particles, however at 20 microns they simply aren’t as much as filtering out the issues that may make you sick, like micro organism and viruses from chicken droppings and the like.
We knew that we would have liked one thing extra strong to filter our ingesting water however didn’t need the facility utilization or potential water waste of a reverse osmosis or UV gentle system. We wanted one thing confirmed to take away the nasties with out utilizing energy within the course of.
Enter the Berkey Filter.
I did a ton of analysis on every kind of house countertop gravity water filters. Initially, I didn’t need to spend the cash as a result of we had simply completed constructing our house and had been fairly properly tapped out. However finally, I broke down and bought a Large Berkey within the spring of 2018. You possibly can examine our full expertise on this publish.
We’ve cherished the expertise of getting a Berkey. The water tastes superb and has been completely protected to drink. Actually, the one time my husband by chance drank our sink water he ended up horribly sick for 2 days. Yikes.
With our Berkey, we’ve had dependable, clear water at a fraction of the value and waste of different filter or bottled water choices. I cherished it a lot I began recommending them to family and friends, after which to readers of this weblog. Issues had been going properly!
After which, I began noticing plenty of Berkey objects beginning to be Out of Inventory and staying that method. I contacted the Berkey distributor I’d bought from to ask what was occurring. They mentioned they had been having provide points and had been instructed they need to be resolved in a matter of months. That didn’t find yourself being the case, sadly.
The EPA vs. Berkey
The US Environmental Safety Company (EPA) issued a Cease Sale order to James Enterprises, Inc. (JEI), the most important US distributor at the moment of Berkey Water Filters by New Millenium Ideas, Ltd. (NMCL). An identical Cease Sale was issued to Berkey Worldwide LLC . This Cease Sale order associated particularly to the character of the black filter parts.
Water filters ensuring public well being claims, like the flexibility to filter out microorganisms, are regulated underneath the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Berkey merchandise made particular microbiological claims, which was really one of many causes I turned so all for them within the first place given our cistern water.
In keeping with the EPA, these claims meant that Berkey filters must be categorized as a pesticide and issued a Cease Sale till they might rectify the scenario.
This was on the tail finish of 2022, and since then the scenario has not been rectified. Actually, NMCL filed an Software for Non permanent Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction in opposition to the EPA in response. Berkey Worldwide LLC filed a really comparable go well with with the identical legislation agency in america Federal Courtroom District of Puerto Rico.
So what now?
Even when Berkey settles with the EPA and makes their filters completely compliant with what they’re asking for, it has turn out to be abundantly clear to me that people must preserve their choices open.
I do know that I personally have had a fantastic expertise with our Berkey filters for the previous 5+ years, however they don’t seem to be a panacea. I’ve all the time been a bit irked by their unwillingness to acquire NSF/ANSI certification, in addition to their declare that promoting in California and Iowa can be a cost-prohibitive pink tape.
I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of what I imagine is at play right here, as there’s a LOT of nuance and it’s straightforward for most of the people to make snap judgments about authorities oversight or company greed. I need to keep away from black-and-white pondering right here. Furthermore, I don’t need to let you know precisely what you must suppose.
What I AM going to do is present you some alternate options to Berkey filters to think about to your house. In spite of everything, relying solely on one supply for something with out some sort of backup leaves you unprepared.
A number of the hyperlinks I exploit are affiliate hyperlinks, however some should not. I all the time advocate for purchasing straight from the producer each time potential, and a few of them don’t have affiliate applications. Whereas it’s good to make a small fee from an affiliate buy, it isn’t the end-all-be-all for me. I’d relatively you will have entry to the perfect shopping for choices and if I occur to earn money, nice. But when not, that’s okay too. My objective is to serve you.
So with out additional ado, let’s discover a number of the greatest water filter alternate options!
Past Berkey: The Greatest Dwelling Water Filter Choices
For the needs of this publish, I’m going to be specializing in 4 principal alternate options which can be probably the most much like Berkey. I cannot be specializing in reverse osmosis techniques, mechanical techniques, or filters that combine along with your plumbing. Are there extra Berkey alternate options on the market? Positive. However these are the 4 that, in my estimation, are the perfect and highest high quality alternate options for folk who had been drawn to Berkey filters within the first place.
BOROUX basis. Water Filters
Within the years main as much as the Berkey debacle, I had been an affiliate with BerkeyFilters.com (JEI). They’re the parents I had initially bought our unit from, and I had such a beautiful customer support expertise that turning into an affiliate for them was a no brainer.
Sadly, as one of many largest distributors of Berkey Filters within the US, they had been the primary to shut their Berkey operations. However they had been in a position to make an necessary pivot as an alternative of merely closing for good.
Todd Emerson, who began James Enterprise Inc. (JEI) and who operated BerkeyFilters.com, determined to work with Boroux to create their very own filter system.
Boroux had beforehand been identified for his or her high-quality glass shatter-proof tumblers and chrome steel cups. We even have 4 of their stainless cups that got here as a part of the bundle deal they’d going once I first bought our Berkey and they’re nonetheless our FAVORITE cups.
Taking some classes from their frustrations with NMCL, Boroux has poured plenty of effort into acquiring the right testing and certifications. They attempt to remain as clear as potential about their strategies and processes, even when they flip off some potential clients alongside the best way.
Within the curiosity of being absolutely clear myself, I’ve not but had a chance to attempt their filters. I’ve a comparatively new set of black Berkey parts and haven’t but sprung for purchasing one other filter system for the only real function of testing it out.
The truth that they technically can’t say they filter out microorganisms leaves a little bit of uncertainty for me too, since microorganism contaminants are a major concern of mine with our cistern water. With their specs being so comparable, I’ve a tough time believing they wouldn’t take away them. However I can’t but converse to that have and don’t need to make these claims.
That mentioned, if I had a municipal water supply and wished a high-quality filter, I’d purchase this in a heartbeat.
Their new chrome steel unit has a capability of three gallons, which is true between the Large Berkey (2.25 gallons) and Royal Berkey (3.25 gallons).
Their black filter parts declare TWICE the rated variety of gallons per filter and have specs VERY much like Berkey. They will additionally match into all sizes of Berkey in addition to a variety of different main gravity filters, together with Alexapure Professional and the ProOne Large+ and Large II.
Alexapure Professional
Alexapure is a really comparable chrome steel gravity filter that’s broadly trusted within the prepper neighborhood. They’ve stable, dependable, unbiased testing knowledge and are proven to have the ability to take away microbiological contaminants. They declare to be “Manufactured from NSF/ANSI customary 61 and California Prop 65 Compliant licensed coconut shell carbon and uncooked supplies” however don’t say outright that all the filter is licensed, if that is a vital function for you.
Alexapure solely provides one dimension of filter akin to the Large Berkey at 2.25 gallons, so if you happen to’re on the lookout for a bigger capability filter this one possible isn’t it.
The large factor that held me again from shopping for this explicit filter the primary time round is the truth that the filters solely have a rated lifespan of about 200 gallons. And at $80-100+ that may begin to get fairly dear for our household of three, who may use that a lot in 2-3 months. That’s roughly $0.50 per gallon in comparison with $0.02-0.03 for the standard alternative set of Berkey black filters or $0.012 for the newer Boroux filters, which may course of as much as 12,000 gallons per pair.
To equal the capability of two Berkey or Boroux filters that value round $160 per pair, we’d undergo roughly 30 Alexapure filters at an eye-popping complete of $2,500-3,000. That sounds type of loopy to me. (Alexapure house owners, please chime in if this has not been the case for you!)
Nonetheless although, the Alexapure Professional is a stable alternative for a stainless-steel countertop gravity filter with an extended monitor report of success within the homesteading and prepping neighborhood and is value consideration.
ProOne Large+ and Traveler+
ProOne (rebranded from Propur in 2021) is one other high-quality chrome steel gravity filter. Their white filters are examined by an authorized unbiased lab to NSF/ANSI Requirements 42, 53, P231, P401 and P473.
There are a number of upsides to this filter. First, they don’t require any priming (which is nice for these of us who don’t have reliable water to prime with). Second, they don’t have to be stored saturated when not in use, which is nice for when it is advisable to take prolonged journeys away. Third, they take away fluoride on their very own with out the necessity for secondary fluoride filters, for folk who care about that.
So far as value per gallon, these fare barely higher than Alexapure filters however nonetheless not in addition to Boroux or Berkey. ProOne states to interchange these each 6 months or 1000 gallons. At roughly $79 per filter, that works out to $0.079 per gallon.
If You Already Have a Berkey and Want Alternative Filters
In the event you’re like us and you have already got a Berkey of your personal however want viable alternative filters, you will have a number of choices.
One, you possibly can really nonetheless order Berkey filters by Acutely aware Water, which is predicated in Canada. They can ship to the US, so if you happen to’re useless set on solely utilizing Berkey black filter parts, that is undoubtedly one thing to think about. Remember, costs are listed in Canadian {dollars} and will probably be totally different in USD.
Boroux and ProOne filters listed above each match into the highest chamber of most Berkey filters. Double-check your particular mannequin earlier than you order although, as ProOne provides each 7-inch and 9-inch filters.
Some Berkey suppliers now carry the white tremendous sterasyl filters usually related to British Berkefeld/Doulton. One pair, usually priced round $80, can filter round 1,000 gallons. This works out to $0.08 per gallon, which isn’t too horrible. The tremendous sterasyl filters have a really lengthy monitor report of success and are NSF/ANSI Normal 42, 53, and 372 examined and permitted.
A Be aware About Buying Filters on Amazon
First, I warning anybody from shopping for low cost alternative filters on Amazon. Berkey already had points with purported knock-offs on Amazon earlier than the troubles with the EPA. That downside has ballooned since then.
Whether or not Berkey’s claims themselves are 100% reliable or not, these knock-offs have their very own points. I seemed by many alternative cheap Berkey alternative filters on Amazon. Most of them claimed to have some sort of NSF/ANSI certification, which on the floor sounds positive however will be exhausting to confirm.
After I began digging by the evaluations, most of them mentioned how they might do issues like move the “pink dye take a look at” at their preliminary set up solely to fail a month or two later. Or about weak point of the plastic stems that match by the holes between chambers and the way they might crack and fail inside a number of months.
The saying in our home is, “the most costly device is an inexpensive device,” and that definitely appears to be true on this case.
Past that, having filters that fail that shortly will be harmful if you happen to’re on a water supply the place microbes will be a problem, like we’re. Skip a budget alternate options and get one thing from an organization you possibly can hint and that has actual testing knowledge.
In the event you’re buying from Amazon, do your greatest to verify the shop you’re purchasing WITHIN Amazon is an official supplier and never a no-name reseller.
For instance, purchase ProOne filters from the ProOne Amazon retailer. Purchase Doulton/British Berkefeld filters from the Doulton Amazon retailer. That is usually follow it doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for on Amazon.
In the event you discover a filter that appears prefer it may do the job and the value is true, attempt trying to find the identify of the model in a separate search tab. Does that firm have an internet site? Is there verifiable security and testing knowledge? If not, you may need to move.
Clear water shifting ahead…
I want I may see into the longer term and know the way issues had been going to pan out with Berkey and the EPA. The authorized system is gradual and arduous, and even when issues get sorted out, it looks like Berkey may have an uphill battle to reclaim belief within the eyes of many.
I’m not totally positive what possibility our household will select the following time we have to exchange our Berkey, however in researching for this publish I used to be happy to truly discover a number of appropriate choices.
If nothing else, my hope is that Berkey’s present troubles immediate extra corporations to innovate and discover high-quality, inexpensive water filtration options that folk of all stripes can entry. Whether or not you reside within the nation with cistern water, like us, otherwise you dwell in a metropolis with lead contamination, clear water is one thing we should always all have entry to.
Supply Supplies
If you need to take a look at the supply materials I utilized in researching this publish, see the references beneath:
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