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For years, Berkey Filters has been a trusted water filtration possibility for myself and for thousands and thousands of households. Nevertheless, current circumstances have modified issues. Is Berkey nonetheless an possibility? And if not, what options are there for guaranteeing 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 via a 2-stage particulate filter. It’s then saved in a stress tank the place it could actually then circulation to fixtures all through the home.
The particulate filter is ok for getting out the high quality dust 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 wanted one thing extra sturdy 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 have been fairly properly tapped out. However in the end, I broke down and bought a Huge Berkey within the spring of 2018. You’ll be able to examine our full expertise on this publish.
We’ve beloved the expertise of getting a Berkey. The water tastes wonderful 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 beloved it a lot I began recommending them to family and friends, after which to readers of this weblog. Issues have been going properly!
After which, I began noticing lots of Berkey objects beginning to be Out of Inventory and staying that approach. I contacted the Berkey distributor I’d bought from to ask what was happening. They stated they have been having provide points and have been advised 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 components.
Water filters ensuring public well being claims, like the power to filter out microorganisms, are regulated underneath the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Berkey merchandise made particular microbiological claims, which was truly one of many causes I grew to become so all for them within the first place given our cistern water.
In response to the EPA, these claims meant that Berkey filters must be categorized as a pesticide and issued a Cease Sale till they may rectify the state of affairs.
This was on the tail finish of 2022, and since then the state of affairs has not been rectified. Actually, NMCL filed an Software for Non permanent Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction towards the EPA in response. Berkey Worldwide LLC filed a really comparable swimsuit with the identical legislation agency in the US 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 develop into abundantly clear to me that people must maintain their choices open.
I do know that I personally have had an ideal expertise with our Berkey filters for the previous 5+ years, however they aren’t a panacea. I’ve at all times been a bit irked by their unwillingness to acquire NSF/ANSI certification, in addition to their declare that promoting in California and Iowa could be a cost-prohibitive purple 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 considering right here. Furthermore, I don’t need to let you know precisely what you should assume.
What I AM going to do is present you some options to Berkey filters to contemplate to your house. In spite of everything, relying solely on one supply for something with out some sort of backup leaves you unprepared.
Among the hyperlinks I exploit are affiliate hyperlinks, however some should not. I at all times advocate for getting instantly from the producer at any time when doable, and a few of them don’t have affiliate packages. 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 somewhat you’ve got entry to one of the best shopping for choices and if I occur to become profitable, nice. But when not, that’s okay too. My purpose is to serve you.
So with out additional ado, let’s discover a few of the finest water filter options!
Past Berkey: The Greatest House Water Filter Choices
For the needs of this publish, I’m going to be specializing in 4 major options which can be probably the most much like Berkey. I can’t be specializing in reverse osmosis methods, mechanical methods, or filters that combine together with your plumbing. Are there extra Berkey options on the market? Positive. However these are the 4 that, in my estimation, are one of the best and highest high quality options for people who have 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 have been the primary to shut their Berkey operations. However they have been in a position to make an essential 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 stainless-steel cups. We even have 4 of their stainless cups that got here as a part of the bundle deal that they had 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 lots of effort into acquiring the correct testing and certifications. They try to remain as clear as doable about their strategies and processes, even when they flip off some potential prospects alongside the way in which.
I lately had the chance to check out their new Legacy filter system and wrote an enormous assessment on it. You’ll be able to learn all about it right here.
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 main 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 communicate to that have and don’t need to make these claims.
That stated, if I had a municipal water supply and needed a high-quality filter, I might purchase this in a heartbeat.
Their new stainless-steel unit has a capability of three gallons, which is true between the Huge Berkey (2.25 gallons) and Royal Berkey (3.25 gallons).
Their black filter components declare TWICE the rated variety of gallons per filter and have specs VERY much like Berkey. They’ll additionally match into all sizes of Berkey in addition to a variety of different main gravity filters, together with Alexapure Professional and the ProOne Huge+ and Huge II.
Alexapure Professional
Alexapure is a really comparable stainless-steel gravity filter that’s extensively trusted within the prepper neighborhood. They’ve strong, 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 your complete filter is licensed, if that is a vital characteristic for you.
Alexapure solely provides one dimension of filter akin to the Huge Berkey at 2.25 gallons, so when you’re searching for a bigger capability filter this one probably isn’t it.
The massive 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 expensive for our household of three, who would possibly 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 might course of as much as 12,000 gallons per pair.
To equal the capability of two Berkey or Boroux filters that price round $160 per pair, we’d undergo roughly 30 Alexapure filters at an eye-popping whole of $2,500-3,000. That sounds form 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 strong alternative for a chrome steel countertop gravity filter with a protracted observe document of success within the homesteading and prepping neighborhood and is price consideration.
ProOne Huge+ and Traveler+
ProOne (rebranded from Propur in 2021) is one other high-quality stainless-steel gravity filter. Their white filters are examined by a licensed 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’s worthwhile to take prolonged journeys away. Third, they take away fluoride on their very own with out the necessity for secondary fluoride filters, for people who care about that.
So far as price per gallon, these fare barely higher than Alexapure filters however nonetheless not in addition to Boroux or Berkey. ProOne states to exchange 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
When you’re like us and you have already got a Berkey of your individual however want viable alternative filters, you’ve got a number of choices.
One, you’ll be able to truly nonetheless order Berkey filters via Aware Water, which is predicated in Canada. They’re able to ship to the US, so when you’re lifeless set on solely utilizing Berkey black filter components, that is undoubtedly one thing to contemplate. Be mindful, costs are listed in Canadian {dollars} and shall 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 observe document of success and are NSF/ANSI Normal 42, 53, and 372 examined and authorized.
A Observe 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 drawback 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 regarded via many various cheap Berkey alternative filters on Amazon. Most of them claimed to have some sort of NSF/ANSI certification, which on the floor sounds high quality however could be arduous to confirm.
Once I began digging via the critiques, most of them mentioned how they’d do issues like move the “purple dye check” at their preliminary set up solely to fail a month or two later. Or about weak point of the plastic stems that match via the holes between chambers and the way they’d crack and fail inside a number of months.
The saying in our home is, “the costliest instrument is an affordable instrument,” and that definitely appears to be true on this case.
Past that, having filters that fail that rapidly could be harmful when you’re on a water supply the place microbes could be a difficulty, like we’re. Skip a budget options and get one thing from an organization you’ll be able to hint and that has actual testing knowledge.
When you’re buying from Amazon, do your finest to verify the shop you’re purchasing WITHIN Amazon is an official seller 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 typically apply it doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for on Amazon.
When you discover a filter that appears prefer it would possibly 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 would possibly need to move.
Clear water transferring ahead…
I want I may see into the long run and know the way issues have 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 appears like Berkey can have an uphill battle to reclaim belief within the eyes of many.
I’m not totally certain what possibility our household will select the subsequent 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, reasonably priced 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 must 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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