Big Berkey Water Filters

If you’re like most people, you’re concerned about the quality of your drinking water, but you aren’t sure what to do about it. Berkey water offers a solution that works without costing a small fortune in the process.

The Berkey water filtration system is different from other options on the market. This system is made in the United States and uses gravity to remove unwanted chemicals and contaminants from drinking water. Berkey water systems are suitable for at-home use, but are portable enough to take on the road. They are even effective at purifying untreated water, which makes them great in emergency situations or when owners are away from home.

Berkey water systems are used in homes throughout America and Canada and in some 140 different countries all over the world. Their effectiveness and unique design has also made them a favorite for relief organizations like the Red Cross.  The British Royal household even uses Berkey water systems.

There are many reasons why Berkey is a great investment in personal health and safety. The top reasons why Berkey water is a solid choice are:

The Health Benefits – Berkey water systems remove the bad things in water without impacting the good. These systems are superior to other filtration devices because they get rid of pathogenic bacteria, cysts, unhealthy chemical contaminants and even parasites. They are effective to levels higher than 99.99 percent on many chemicals. Berkey systems are even effective at reducing fluoride and arsenic found in water. When Berkey water filters are used, they will not remove the vital minerals found in water that bodies need to maintain healthy and thrive.

The Affordability Factor – Some filtration systems can cost a small fortune to purchase and operate. While Berkey water does require an upfront investment, it’s one that can pay off quickly. Berkey water offers a fantastic return on investment. Each Black Berkey Water Filter, for example, will last up to 3,000 gallons or 6,000 gallons for a set of two. This lifespan is a great deal longer than most other water filtering systems available today. At an estimated 10 gallons of water a week, the Berkey water system will provide more than 11.5 years of use. This equates to about 1.7 cents for each gallon of clean drinking water.

The Functionality – Berkey water systems do not require electricity to function and they are completely portable. Berkey systems can purify both standard city tap water and also untreated, raw water from sources like streams, stagnant ponds and lakes. The micro-pores found within the self-sterilizing and re-cleanable Black Berkey water purification elements are so tiny that bacteria and other contaminants simply cannot pass through them. Because Berkey water filtration systems don’t need electricity, they are ideal for use in emergency situations. They are also great to take along on camping trips and treks outside of the country.

Choosing a water purification system can be a confusing task. When functionality, return on investment and reliability are desired, Berkey water is the clear choice.

Every time you turn on the tap at home, chances are you find yourself wondering just what is in your water. Unsavory chemicals like chlorine, unwanted additives like fluoride, and a host of microscopic bacteria can seep into every glass. It’s become an all to often event to read frightening headlines about just what has been found in the public water supply.

When it’s time to enjoy peace of mind, home water filters can deliver. When the right system is selected, you will enjoy cleaner, safer water without having to spend a fortune in the process.

The Berkey home water filter system is favored from the British Royal house to Peace Corp camps around the world for very good reasons. Our water filters remove the things in your water that you don’t want without stripping out the vital minerals your body needs.

The gravity water filters we offer are designed to get rid of a number of major concerns in public drinking water. They are highly effective at removing such things as cysts, parasites, and harmful pathogens (to 99.99999%), while also removing many unwanted chemicals and contaminants to undetectable levels. Berkey water filter systems also significantly reduce the fluoride and arsenic levels in your water via the PF line of filters.

When the right home water filter system is used, you can be assured of several things every time you pour a glass of water for a family member. These include:

Enjoying better tasting water – Chlorine and other additives placed into public water supplies can give water a funny flavor that bothers many. When home water filters are used to get rid of the chemicals, the only taste left behind is pure, clean water. In addition to making drinks taste better, the removal of chemicals is also fantastic for the flavors of dishes cooked with water in the mix.

Gaining peace of mind – There is something very comforting about knowing an effective home water filter system is on the job. With harmful bacteria found even in municipal drinking water systems, you can never be too safe. The right water filters will remove any worries and concerns associated with grabbing water straight out of your tap.

Getting your money’s worth – Some home water filters cost a small fortune to put into operation. The Berkey system does not. Our water costs about 1.7 cents a gallon. Plus, the Berkey home water filter system does not depend on electricity to function and it is fully portable. This means it can be counted on to deliver safe, clean water even during power outages. It can also be taken on the road during camping trips and more.

It doesn’t matter whether you are on a well or have city water, turning on the tap can sometimes be a crap-shoot. If you’re ready to stop worrying about what is in your water and start enjoying a cleaner taste, then picking the right home water filter system is a great investment. Berkey water delivers the performance you’re after, at the prices you can afford.

This past Friday 1/29/2010, Dan DeBaun, owner of BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com appeared for 1 hour on the George Berry radio show. Titled “Crash, Are You Ready?”, this show on the GCN network covers diverse topics ranging from food and water shortages to political and financial corruption.

George and Dan spoke about recent Haiti relief efforts and how Berkey Water Filters were being used by individuals and large relief organizations alike to provide potable drinking water in the region. Other topics covered were the degrading drinking water conditions here in the US and how the Safe Drinking Water Act passed by congress in 1974 has failed to protect the environment and the public’s drinking water. Click here to listen to the show, or right click and “save as file” to download and play in a media player of your choosing.

Water contamination by industrial metals such as aluminum is becoming a serious problem. Considered a heavy metal, ingestion should be avoided at all costs and is the reason why many citizens have opted for home water filters as a reliable means to protect themselves and their families.

Aluminum was first discovered in the early 1800’s, but was very expensive to use at $90/pound. In 1886, Charles Martin Hall developed an inexpensive method of extracting the metal from the ore resulting in  a price drop to $2/pound. What ensued was an explosive increase in aluminum utilization across all industries becoming the third most produced metal today.

However, aluminum has brought with it some problems. A study by D.R.C. McLachlan showed a disturbing relationship between the amount of aluminum in drinking water and Alzheimer’s cases. He concluded that if the aluminum level in the public water had been kept below 100 micrograms/liter, 25 percent or more of the cases could have been prevented.  Other studies make similar claims, yet there seems to be a continuing scientific debate as research into the aluminum-Alzheimer connection and it’s associated risk degrees goes deeper.

The negative affect of industry on our health has been know for decades, but as time passes, knowledge continues to be gleaned as to just how much risk we’ve placed our bodies at.  Studies are revealing that most all heavy metals, when ingested over longer periods of time, will adversely affect our health. Especially susceptible and damaged by these metals are the nervous system and organs. Small levels of exposure can be tolerated, but as heavy metals accumulate in the body, a disharmony begins to develop. This disharmony can turn into disease, body disorders, and cancer.

Aluminum solubility has relative dependency with the PH of the water, becoming more soluble at high and low PH levels. For instance, when the PH is less than 4.5, solubility rapidly increases and can be absorbed by the body much easier. The most common compounds of aluminum, aluminum oxide and aluminum hydroxide, are both insoluble, but other compounds such as aluminum sulfate is water soluble and is considered more dangerous as it leeches into our water supplies.

The connection between aluminum in the water and Alzheimer’s is alarming enough to motivate each of us to act.  Step one for the general population should be to find a quality water filter to filter their drinking water. Whether you get your water from a well or a municipal supply, aluminum will surely be present but will hopefully be at very low concentrations. Most cities set a maximum allowable level of 50 and 200 g/L but the only way to guarantee protection is pursue further water filtration at the point of use, your home.

One technique is to distill your drinking water but this removes valuable minerals such as potassium and magnesium while also stripping out the taste. We recommend a comprehensive water filter like the Berkey Water Filter that uses a combination of various filtration media that are able to remove 95% of the aluminum in the water.  The Black Berkey filters that come standard with each counter top water filter system do this for a very low cost averaging approximately 2 cents per gallon.  Since concentrations of this metal have not been shown to have any benefit for the body, the more we remove, the better off we are!

The Black Berkey red food coloring test provides the opportunity to showcase the impressive purification power of the Black Berkey elements. Many water filter companies make claims to their high quality, but Berkey water filters go one step further by making their lab test results public and presenting demonstrations such as the red food coloring test. While helpful for new customers to see the Black Berkey filters in action, it is invaluable for the existing customer base since it can be used at anytime during the life of the filters to ensure they are working to design specifications. Whether the original black berkeys have been in operation for the past 3, 7, or 10 years, one can perform this test at anytime to see if it’s time for a replacement. We recommend customers place a cup underneath each filter as this will help isolate which filter is exhausted, and which is still purifying effectively.

With other water filters, the customer must assume their system is working to specifications or spend the time and money to perform water tests.  This time lapse video shows how simple the red food coloring test can be done after priming your Black Berkey filters.

Below are 2 berkey water filter reviews that customers have recently submitted to BigBerkeyWaterFilters.com.  They did not have site accounts and wanted to share their opinion of the berkey system. We thank them for their kind words.

Berkey Water Filter Review #1

I just received my first order from Big Berkey and everything was perfect. I really appreciate your time in answering my questions before I ordered, sending me a detailed receipt upon completing my internet order transaction, which was followed by a shipping conformation when package was shipped. The order was filled correctly, packed very well so there was no damage to anything. I was amazed how quickly this order arrived. You folks care and will have my repeat business when I need more supplies and I will certainly recommend your company to others.

Regards,
Larry Miller
Santa Clarita, California

Berkey Water Filter Review #2

This whole ‘trip’ has been amazing to me because I originally bought a Berkey water filter as a survival tool, just to have ‘on tap’, so to speak. If electricity goes, I thought, (as it often does here in the country) well, you know, then wells stop working. How would I be sure of safe water? One can only ‘truck in’ and store so much bottled water at home. Suppose the outage was long-lasting? Times are tenuous at best these days so the purchase of the Berkey (after much studying of what was available) was simply preparedness at that point in my mind. Since everything has a learning curve and then a comfort zone you need to achieve after that, I decided that before I really needed the Berkey water filter for survival’s sake I would familiarize myself with using it. It said in the directions that you could always dry the filters out if you wanted to put them away so I felt fine about a trial run. The directions are simple, really. The old adage is apt here: “If I can do it anyone can.”

Everyone who spent time with me BEFORE in The Berkshires in MA thought my well water was superb. But NOW with the Berkey water filter I feel as though I’ve never really tasted wonderful water before and the others agree. It’s different now. Delicious. I would almost say a treat! And the highest superlative comes from my many dogs. They are big water drinkers but now they have become HUGE water drinkers! As you know, if a ‘taste’ passes muster with an animal well, then, it’s really good.

Words fail me in impressing on anyone reading this how important this technologically advanced yet simple filtering system is for your continued good health and peace of mind. Somehow you can always find a way to have clean, sanitary, safe water. That security in itself is more important than food.

I am so grateful that I literally followed Internet chatter to discover the Berkey filter product line from New Millennium Concepts. Needless to say, it is not being put away as planned. Our house now revolves around the Berkey for any water that is used for drinking or cooking. Buying a Berkey water filter is probably potentially the biggest beneficial change I could have made in my life.

Let me close by saying I am not wealthy. I bought the Big Berkey but find this product line so important that I sacrificed in other areas of my life to ‘get it right’. Well, I didn’t exactly………. get it right, I mean. Not in the beginning. In choosing the size Berkey water filter (The Big Berkey) I needed I forgot to factor in my dogs and their constant need for water. So, yes. I have The Big Berkey now but The Imperial should be here next week sometime. Choose your unit realistically and generously. In this case ‘bigger IS better’. As it did for me, I can guarantee it will become a part of your most valued household equipment now and will also be there if a serious need arises. AND it’s easily portable if need be.

I would add here that the customer support (Dan DeBaun) is rather like dealing with a knowledgeable caring friend not a businessman. I single-handedly can attest to the fact that he cheerfully answers multiple upon multiple…….. no, MYRIADS……. of questions and never makes you feel stupid (though I know he’s heard them many times before).

So, here’s to you, Dan, and you, Berkeys all!

Mary Jane Goodrich
South Egremont MA

Good strong teeth in a child is a priority to conscientious parents and fluoride in water is considered by many to help achieve that. Yet, in spite of the advancements in dental care, more than one fourth of 2 to 5 year olds, and half of kids 12 to 15, have one or more cavities. Further, tooth decay has affected two thirds teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19. These statistics and other disturbing facts about the dangers of fluoride in water have parents increasingly purchasing fluoride water filters.

Many agree with studies that seem to indicate that adding fluoride to public water will decrease the problem of tooth decay, while others strongly disagree.  Fluoride is the 13th most common element in the earth’s crust and exists naturally in water. Some water has sufficient natural fluoride, but what if it is not naturally present? Should fluoride be added to water systems? The debate about fluoride won’t be settled here. Rather, the purpose of this article is to consider a few of these points, and to give you some options.

Supporters of Fluoride in Water

Supporters of fluoridation state, “Today, water fluoridation is estimated to reduce tooth decay by 20-40%….It is well known that fluoride helps prevent and even reverse the early stages of tooth decay.â€� These statements have the authority of a trained doctor. Similarly, “For over 60  years, water fluoridation has proven to be a safe and cost-effective way to reduce dental cavities.â€�

Those favoring use of fluoride in general claim that its presence combats tooth decay in two ways. First, it strengthens the developing teeth and second, it aids the surface of the teeth by preventing the acid produced by the bacteria in plaque from dissolving, or demineralizing tooth enamel. Fluoride also allows teeth damaged by acid to remineralize, or repair themselves. It won’t repair cavities, but it can reverse minor tooth decay and prevent new cavities from forming.

Opponents of Fluoride in Water

The evidence for fluoride as part of dental care is well supported, however the data supporting the benefits of adding fluoride in water is not as strong. Opponents state; “There is no difference in the tooth decay rates of the fluoridated and nonfluoridated water regions surveyed.â€� They claim that increased amount of fluoride in children can actually increase tooth decay. Too much fluoride during the teeth developing years can cause enamel fluorosis, a mottling or discoloration of the permanent teeth. To add fluoride to water, along with toothpaste and treatments can exceed the maximum level that is safe.  Read the back of your toothpaste and you’ll learn that fluoride poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, increased salivation, or increased thirst with symptoms lasting up to 24 hours but appear within 30 minutes after ingestion.  Are we slowly poisoning our bodies with continuous low levels of fluoride in our water?  Wouldn’t younger children be more susceptible?

Those opposed to the added fluoride say the studies have not considered it’s long range effects. They claim it is directly linked to changes in bone structure and strength, cancer, impairs the immune system, causes birth defects and perinatal deaths, causes initial stages of skeletal fluorosis, inhibits key enzymes, causes osteoarthritis, and suppresses thyroid function. What do they say about the studies that prove that fluoride in water is good for dental hygiene? The studies had several flaws. First, they did  not consider the differences between “natural fluoride” (ex: CaF)  and added fluoride in water (ex: NaF). Second, these studies did not consider the other minerals in the water and these could actually be the cause of decreased instances of tooth decay. Third, adequate risk analysis was lacking with dental fluorosis as the only barometer for safety being included.

Berkey Fluoride Water Filters

Fluoride Water Filters

If your conclusion from these points is that fluoride should not be in your drinking water, what are your options? Some opt for bottled water, but this can get expensive. A better alternative is to purchase a fluoride water filter. Some expensive units do this, yet there are also more affordable systems that provide optional fluoride water filters.  Berkey water filter systems, for example, have available an additional fluoride filter that can be attached below the primary black berkeys and will remove fluoride from the water. If you don’t want fluoride, you don’t have to drink it.

In another damning blow to our US drinking water quality, the New York Times printed another article today as part of their “Toxic Waters, Outdated Laws”, series.  (Last week’s drinking water article commentary here) I stumbled across this as I raced through the airport trying to catch a flight to Nashville. There I see it, at the airport mini-mart kiosk on the front page of the NYT; That tap water is legal, but may be unhealthy. As I read these sorts of articles and scientific reports often, I was expecting some more rehashing of the usual dismal conditions of our municipal water systems. This was the case, however there was an important connection made relating the growing problem of our water quality to the shrinking amount of funds to fix it.

Drinking Water Quality Downtrend

Not only are we failing miserably in keeping pace by defining and categorizing all the chemicals that continue to show up in our drinking water.  But, even if we do, the majority of municipalities are going to be unable to afford the type of upgrades or replacement treatment facilities that would be needed to remove these chemicals. This is a scary thought, trying to fix a behemoth of a problem that continues to grow fast, with limited funds and resources to do so. The reality is that the water quality challenges the US and most other developed countries are facing would be intimidating if we had unlimited funds and finances. As a society are we really ready to acknowledge the severity of this problem and fight this uphill battle? Home water filters are only a short term solution to a long term problem. Here are some of my favorite quotes that appear in the article.

“Only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Water Drinking Act, yet more than 60,000 chemicals are used withing the United States according to the Environmental Protection Agency.” Mind you, the Safe Water Drinking Act is 35 years old and no additional chemicals have been added to the regulated list since 2000!

“People don’t understand that just because water is technically legal, it can still present health risks” Dr. Pankaj Parekh - Director of the water quality division for LA, California. - Speaking in regard to challenges he’s faced in trying to reduce/remove chemicals that are not on the SDWA watch list.

“For years, people said that America has the cleanest drinking water in the world.  That was true 20 years ago.  But, people don’t realize how many new chemicals have emerged and how much more pollution has occurred.  If they did, we would see very different attitudes.” William K Reilly, EPA administrator under President George H. W. Bush

“Government scientists have evaluated 830 contaminants most often found in water supplies…and they have determined that many of them are associated with cancer or other diseases, even at small concentrations. Yet, almost none of these assessments have been incorporated into the SWDA or other federal laws”

“In May, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Water Infrastructure Financing Act which, if approved by congress and signed by President Obama, would authorize $14.7 Billion in loans to help states improve their systems.” A step in the right direction, but the article also quotes that a new system for LA could be upwards of $800M.  We simply need to move faster and act with more urgency.

This week, the New York Times reported on it’s disturbing findings of an investigation into the US municipal water systems that serve millions of Americans. It highlights failures and obvious enforcement gaps in current government regulations that we’ve assumed are protecting our drinking water, including the realization that 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems have violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Water Quality (Un)enforcement

The discovery that municipalities fail water quality reports is nothing new, but what’s a little surprising is that the majority of  municipalities that received violations were never penalized for their failures in meeting water safety requirements. Many were given a pass under the impression that fining would be counterproductive to cash-strapped municipalities. This has serious ramifications to our public health and needs to be regarded as such.

Contaminants in our Drinking Water

As I’ve written about in earlier articles, this is partly a byproduct of the public’s assumption that our drinking water is safe with no spotlight being placed on the regulators. The American people are coping with many other personal and financial issues, and unless it makes headlines, they are unaware of the continuing destruction of our water sources thanks to human pollution.  As the NYT points out, water treatment facilities are struggling with the current identified list of monitored contaminants, but this is only half the story. The cold hard fact is that there exists an inability for private and government organizations to keep pace in identifying and filtering out the swelling number of chemicals that continue to show up in our water supply. As long as we continue to increase our use of chemicals in products and manufacturing, then it’s a safe bet to assume that the chemicals and contaminants found in our water will continue to increase in lockstep.

We Must Improve Our Drinking Water Quality Regulations

In this New York Times report, many of the water contaminants that show links to cancer were the very same contaminants that these towns were found to be in violation of.  In one referenced example, “the E.P.A. has reported that more than three million Americans have been exposed since 2005 to drinking water with illegal concentrations of arsenic and radioactive elements, both of which have been linked to cancer at small doses.” As was mentioned in our lead in our drinking water post, schools are far from exempt from this poor water quality problem, as a more recent article by the NYT on Dec 8th covers; Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on EPA School Water Quality We need to continue to increase out awareness of how we affect the water supply through pollution and daily living habits, but we must also be aware that water we had originally assumed was healthy for consumption may require a run through a quality water filter prior to drinking.

While we should all be aware of the dangers of lead poisoning; Let’s recap:

1. Lead affects every organ and system in the body causing permanent brain, kidney, liver, spleen, and nervous system damage.
2. Children and infants are at a significantly higher risk to lead poisoning at smaller doses.
3. High lead levels damages the male reproductive system and can cause a blood disorder called Anemia.
   
4. Even at relatively low exposures, decreased intelligence, short-term memory loss, reading under-achievement, impairment of visual-motor function, loss of auditory memory, poor perceptual integration, and impaired reaction time occurs.

Beyond lead paint, one of our primary exposures to lead poisoning comes from our drinking water.  Lead pipes and/or lead soldering is still prevalent in many older homes, bldgs, and distribution systems.  Water filters are required for protection in such circumstances.  Dr. Marc Edwards of Environmental Engineering at Virginia Tech spoke this past summer at the Yale University Drinking Water Symposium.   Following up on Dr. Oz’s water filter segment, this is a great clip of Dr. Edward’s presentation on the dangers of lead in our municipal water and school buildings.