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For years, Berkey Filters has been a trusted water filtration possibility for myself and for hundreds of thousands of households. Nonetheless, current circumstances have modified issues. Is Berkey nonetheless an possibility? And if not, what options are there for making certain secure, clear ingesting water in your house? Learn on to seek out out.
My household has been residing 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 stress tank the place it could actually then movement to fixtures all through the home.
The particulate filter is okay for getting out the tremendous filth and particles, however at 20 microns they only 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 ability 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 residence countertop gravity water filters. Initially, I didn’t wish to spend the cash as a result of we had simply completed constructing our residence 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 possibly can examine our full expertise on this publish.
We’ve liked the expertise of getting a Berkey. The water tastes wonderful and has been completely secure to drink. In reality, 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 liked 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 a whole lot of Berkey objects beginning to be Out of Inventory and staying that means. 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 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 biggest US distributor at the moment of Berkey Water Filters by New Millenium Ideas, Ltd. (NMCL). An analogous 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 flexibility to filter out microorganisms, are regulated below the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Berkey merchandise made particular microbiological claims, which was truly one of many causes I turned so concerned about 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. In reality, NMCL filed an Software for Short-term Restraining Order and Preliminary Injunction in opposition to the EPA in response. Berkey Worldwide LLC filed a really related go well with with the identical legislation agency in the USA 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 into abundantly clear to me that of us have to maintain their choices open.
I do know that I personally have had an incredible expertise with our Berkey filters for the previous 5+ years, however they aren’t 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 could be a cost-prohibitive purple tape.
I’m not going to get into the nitty-gritty of what I consider 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 wish to keep away from black-and-white pondering right here. Furthermore, I don’t wish to let you know precisely what you should suppose.
What I AM going to do is present you some options to Berkey filters to contemplate on your residence. In spite of everything, relying solely on one supply for something with out some type of backup leaves you unprepared.
Among the hyperlinks I exploit are affiliate hyperlinks, however some usually are not. I all the time advocate for getting instantly from the producer each time attainable, 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 somewhat you might have entry to one of the best shopping for choices and if I occur to earn a living, nice. But when not, that’s okay too. My objective is to serve you.
So with out additional ado, let’s discover among the finest water filter options!
Past Berkey: The Finest Residence Water Filter Choices
For the needs of this publish, I’m going to be specializing in 4 foremost options which can be probably the most just like Berkey. I can’t be specializing in reverse osmosis programs, mechanical programs, or filters that combine along 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 an exquisite customer support expertise that changing 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 capable of make an necessary pivot as a substitute 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 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 a whole lot of effort into acquiring the correct testing and certifications. They try to remain as clear as attainable about their strategies and processes, even when they flip off some potential prospects alongside the best way.
I just lately had the chance to check out their new Legacy filter system and wrote an enormous overview on it. You possibly can 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 major concern of mine with our cistern water. With their specs being so related, I’ve a tough time believing they wouldn’t take away them. However I can’t but converse to that have and don’t wish to make these claims.
That stated, if I had a municipal water supply and needed 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 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 just 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 Huge+ and Huge II.
Alexapure Professional
Alexapure is a really related chrome steel gravity filter that’s extensively trusted within the prepper group. They’ve strong, dependable, impartial testing information and are proven to have the ability to take away microbiological contaminants. They declare to be “Manufactured from NSF/ANSI commonplace 61 and California Prop 65 Compliant licensed coconut shell carbon and uncooked supplies” however don’t say outright that your entire filter is licensed, if that is a crucial function for you.
Alexapure solely presents one dimension of filter corresponding to the Huge Berkey at 2.25 gallons, so for those who’re searching for a bigger capability filter this one possible isn’t it.
The large factor that held me again from shopping for this specific 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 kind 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 selection for a chrome steel countertop gravity filter with a protracted monitor file of success within the homesteading and prepping group and is value consideration.
ProOne Huge+ 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 impartial 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 should be saved saturated when not in use, which is nice for when you want 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 switch 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
Should you’re like us and you have already got a Berkey of your individual however want viable alternative filters, you might have a number of choices.
One, you’ll be able to truly nonetheless order Berkey filters by Acutely aware Water, which is predicated in Canada. They can ship to the US, so for those who’re useless set on solely utilizing Berkey black filter components, that is undoubtedly one thing to contemplate. Take into accout, costs are listed in Canadian {dollars} and will likely be completely 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 presents 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 file of success and are NSF/ANSI Customary 42, 53, and 372 examined and authorised.
A Word 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 appeared by many alternative cheap Berkey alternative filters on Amazon. Most of them claimed to have some type of NSF/ANSI certification, which on the floor sounds tremendous however can generally be laborious to confirm.
Your finest guess is to plug within the title of the filter in query on the NSF web site to see what pops up.
Once I began digging by the critiques, most of them mentioned how they might do issues like go the “purple 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 just a few months.
The saying in our home is, “the most costly device is an affordable device,” and that actually appears to be true on this case.
Past that, having filters that fail that rapidly will be harmful for those who’re on a water supply the place microbes will be a problem, 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 information.
Should you’re buying from Amazon, do your finest to verify the shop you’re buying WITHIN Amazon is an official vendor 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 an excellent follow it doesn’t matter what you’re shopping for on Amazon.
Should you discover a filter that appears prefer it would possibly do the job and the value is true, attempt looking for the title of the model in a separate search tab. Does that firm have a web site? Is there verifiable security and testing information? If not, you would possibly wish to go.
Clear water transferring ahead…
I want I might see into the long run and understand how 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 seems like Berkey may have an uphill battle to reclaim belief within the eyes of many.
I’m not completely positive what possibility our household will select the subsequent time we have to change 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 want to take a look at the supply materials I utilized in researching this publish, see the references beneath:
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